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Manchester United axe Paul McGuinness after Under-18s’ dreadful run
MANCHESTER UNITED have parted company with their Under-18s coach Paul McGuinness.
McGuinness has worked at the club’s academy for 11 years.
But he has paid the price for his team’s woeful season, with them lying bottom of their league after 12 straight defeats.
They were also hammered 5-1 at home by Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup.
McGuinness, a popular figure at the club, is the son of Wilf McGuiness who managed the club for 19 months after Sir Alf Ramsey retired in 1969.
It was left to Under-21s coach Nicky Butt today to break the news of his departure to the academy players at the Carrington Training Ground.
McGuinness, 49, is the first victim of Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward’s root and branch review of the academy.
It began when it’s head Brian McClair left last summer.
Woodward told shareholders on Thursday that changes would be announced.
Woodward said: “The academy continues to be the heart of the club, giving youth a chance is part of our DNA.
“We took the departure of Brian McClair last summer as an opportunity to do a root and branch review of the academy. That is now complete and changes are underway. Announcements will follow in in coming days.”
There has been concern at the state of the academy for some time particularly given the strides Manchester City have taken with their new training complex.
City are top of the Under-18s Northern league which United are propping up.