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🧵 Little thread on #mufc and Greenwood after today’s events, which may help people understand what happened. This is a bit industry-y but hopefully people appreciate the transparency
This morning, I approached Manchester United with a series of facts relating to their internal “process” on Mason Greenwood, which included the detail (undisputed by the club) that chief exec Arnold had told his executive team that the club was planning to bring Greenwood back.
As journalists, we provide right of reply to anyone we approach with a time period (deadline) in which they can respond. This is in the interests of balance and accuracy. And we did that today.
The usual protocol is that a responder would respond to the journalist first and foremost so any background or comment can be inserted into the story, to ensure balance and accuracy.
On this occasion, we were asked to extend our deadline so club could gather its response. Then, simultaneously, around 1545, the club issued a statement on its website, an all-staff email, and a press statement to all journalists who cover the club. And sent to us at same time.
As such, the only reasonable conclusion is that today’s United statement was unplanned and cobbled together as the club deliberated how to respond to our story. (Nobody plans to deliver a public statement at 3.45pm on a Wednesday afternoon)
Clearly, quite annoying personally, because it felt like an attempt to deflect from/bury our reporting, where we acted in entirely good faith with the club. But way more importantly, it was illustrative of United attempting to seize back narrative on increasingly strained process
Personal reading is United are unsettled & panicking that aspects of their choreographed plan made public and they are now witnessing a significant social backlash. I 100% stand by our reporting that Arnold told his exec team in 1st week August of plans to return Greenwood.
Of course, having abandoned their first proposed date (4th August), nothing has been announced, which gives the club plausible deniability on a “final decision”. After all, human beings can change their minds. (Likely reason for delay: wanting to brief women’s team still at WC)
But it is absolutely in the public interest for supporters of the club to know what has been going on in recent weeks, whatever happens next, and that’s why we reported this. theathletic.com/4780813/2023/0…
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