In spite of it still being very early days into the 2020/21 season, Manchester United have seemingly already secured their spot atop of the daily headlines.
Regardless of whether they are winning or not, the Red Devils are usually every fans’ and pundits’ favourite talking point, and the shaky start to the new Premier League campaign, coupled with a relatively disappointing transfer window, have put an even bigger target on the club’s back.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job security is already a major topic of discussion just a couple of weeks in, and it seems like no matter which way you turn your head, the people in charge of the club are up to something controversial in the background.
The latest major news involving United’s higher ups has been the resignation of Sunil Thakur, the former president of the side’s first official fan club in India.
The fact that Thakur stepped down as the head of Manchester United Supporters Club (MUSC) Mumbai, which dates back to as long as fifteen years ago, may not have been so newsworthy on its own, as these things happen. But the circumstances under which Thakur has reportedly left his role are the hot topic.
Thakur’s parting comments consisted largely of accusing the club of forcing him to delete tweets that were opinionated and critical of the club’s performance.
“I felt like an agent who can only ask people to become a member but not express their opinions,” Thakur told CNBC-TV18.
“I haven’t been happy with the way our great club has been run. I don’t think we have been doing enough to remain competitive. I don’t want to continue being an agent for the club and help them sell One United memberships.”
United’s relationship with India and the fans on that side of the world is very important. The Reds were of course planning on visiting there this summer as part of the pre-season tour, before a global pandemic voided those plans. But now, it remains to be seen what actions follow from other members of official United fan clubs across the country.
Thakur himself did not hold back on the criticism of the club and how it is ran upon his resignation, but he did emphasize that leaving the fan club does not change anything in the way he feels about United itself.
“Manchester United will bounce back soon and start competing again when these incompetent people are fired and footballing decisions are taken by intelligent people,” Thakur said.
“The day I feel justice has been done to my money and to the club, I will be back,” he concluded.
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