NEW Manchester United women manager Eva Olid vows the board is STILL backing her team – despite chiefs branding transfer spending “unsustainable”.
The 41-year-old replaced Marc Skinner who quit after clashing with bosses over pinched pennies and a complete change of direction last month.
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Skinner, with one year left on his deal, resigned in frustration at Ineos’ refusal to fund big-money transfers as United shifted focus toward academy development.
Spaniard Olid takes charge of her debut game in the Women’s Super League tonight (Fri) when United travel to London City Lionesses for the season opener.
But incoming boss Olid brushed aside fears over squad investment, insisting: “The club are committed.
“It’s not just about spending crazy money on players. It’s about spending money on players, on staff, on infrastructure.
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“When I arrived I had short conversations with everyone. We have plans in January to sign players that I really need for my style of play.
“The message has always been that we want to invest, but in everything, not just on new players. It’s important we have the right staff, the right coaches, it’s not just about players.
“The message is that they want to win, it’s not that now we just develop, no, they want to win. I’m here to make that happen, but with a solid identity.”
While United tightened their purse strings, rivals Arsenal, Chelsea, City – and even London City – have splurged on marquee stars.
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United have experienced another underwhelming window, signing only four players for around £600,000, while selling star striker Melvine Malard to Chelsea for a club-record fee of around £850,000.
London City, only in their second WSL season and with no men’s affiliated team, signed two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and former United and England keeper Mary Earps.
It comes amid heavy criticism of United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who oversees football operations, after he previously admitted his main priority was the men’s team.
Ratcliffe referred to the women’s side as the “girls” in 2024 and has not attended any of their three FA Cup finals since his 29 per cent takeover in February 2024.
Olid arrived from a title-winning campaign with Hearts, where she took the club from rock-bottom of the Scottish league to a maiden league crown in five seasons.
She added: “I made the impossible possible. With a little time you can achieve impossible things.”
United have lost three and drawn one of their four pre-season matches.
The Women’s Super League will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026-27 season – but the threat of relegation will remain.
At the end of next season, the top two sides from the second tier, WSL 2, will automatically be promoted.
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In addition, the third-placed team in the WSL 2 will face a play-off with the WSL’s bottom side for a place in the top flight.
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