admin Richard Arnold, the man behind Manchester United’s internal investigation into Mason Greenwood, is facing increasing pressure to step down from his role at the club.
The United chief executive was ultimately responsible for the club’s decision on the future of Greenwood, who has not played at Old Trafford since his arrest in January 2022. The forward was later charged with attempted rape, assault and control and coercion.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to drop the case in February 2023. At this point, United began an internal investigation into the allegations that would determine his employee’s future.
That process reached a dramatic climax yesterday with the news that Greenwood will no longer play for the club and will be leaving Old Trafford.
It constituted a complete reversal, however, from the plan Arnold has initially settled on, one of reintegration for Greenwood into the first-team squad. This exposure led to an intense backlash against the decision from internal and external sources to Old Trafford.
Reports suggest this mounting public negativity was the fundamental factor driving United’s change of mind, not ones of morals. Indeed, Arnold went as far as publicly declaring his belief Greenwood “did not commit the acts he was charged with.” An extraordinary admission which The Athletic has called “problematic in the extreme.”
The manner in which United’s Chief Executive Officer has handled this situation has placed him firmly in the public eye.
The Telegraph reports Arnold is now “facing calls to resign” as an admission of his guilt in the investigation.
United’s original proposal to bring Greenwood back to the senior team included a list of eligible facilities. Individuals or organizations that the club believes could have a significant societal impact on the issue.
Among them were politicians, journalists, football experts and domestic violence charities, and each name on the list was labeled as “supportive”, “open” or “hostile” to Greenwood’s reinstatement.
These charities, interested in the welfare of abuse victims, have been labeled “hostile” by US officials. Jamie Klinger, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, an organization formed after the assassination of Sarah Everard, believes this reckless approach will result in Arnold and his advisers resigning.
Barney Chilton, co-founder of Red News, a long-standing and influential United fanzine, echoed Klinger’s words on social media:
“Arnold’s statement and handling of this leaves so much to desire [sic]; surely it should have also been a resignation letter?”
Gary Neville didn’t name Arnold directly but criticised the club’s hierarchy for not delegating this investigation to an independent panel: “It’s been well above their grade of experience and ability.”
Neville believes “authoritative leadership” was required to handle a complex situation effectively, and “Manchester United don’t have that.” The criticism of Arnold is explicitly implicit.
Old Trafford has often been where rampant public opinion causes dramatic policy changes. In the case of Greenwood, this produced the correct decision after five months of incorrect action.
In the context of Richard Arnold’s continued tenure as the club’s Chief Executive, his position looks increasingly shaky.
