Marc Skinner contract: Man Utd trigger 12-month option
Manchester United have triggered the 12-month extension option in manager Marc Skinner’s contract that will see him remain in charge for at least another year until 2024.
Skinner was appointed as successor to Casey Stoney following her resignation in 2021, signing an initial two-year deal with an option for a third.
The 40-year-old has previously spoken about his desire to stay at the club and continue the project that has seen United seriously challenge the established order in the WSL this season. Talks over a new contract beyond 2024 had already started, as reported in January.
“I have an option in my contract that has been taken up, so it’s already set for next year,” Skinner confirmed on Thursday morning ahead of the weekend’s WSL trip to Brighton.
“We are looking at having conversations of a potential new contract but we’ve got too much to focus on right now,” he added.
“We’re here to help the players and the club achieve and I’m really happy with the progression we’ve made. You can see our full style and I think we’re still only at 50% of where I want us to be in the next few years in terms of rotational systems and opponents not understanding what we can do.”
With some players potentially on the move in the summer and new faces set to arrive, Skinner said that he will remain the ‘constant within the team’ as United aim to be 'successful for many years to come’.
Discussing his future on a previous occasion, Skinner expressed hope that the visible progress of his team this season has provided ‘indicators’ to the club hierarchy that he should stay.
“I’m hoping that the qualities we’re putting out on the field, the consistency, the clean sheets, the goals, the way we perform, the fan growth, hopefully there are a lot of indicators as to why we should be here for a long time,” he explained at the time.
Which Man Utd players are out of contract in 2023?
United are facing a potentially difficult summer given that a number of important players are out of contract, with whether or not the club is in next season’s Champions League set to have a significant impact on who stays and who arrives during the transfer window.
Alessia Russo, who whom United rejected two world record bids from Arsenal in January, could yet leave as a free agent when her deal expires at the end of June. The same is true of full-back Ona Batlle, a player often linked with home-town club Barcelona.
The 12-month extension options that were at one point a standard in all United Women contracts have already been triggered to keep them at the club this season.
Aoife Mannion, now back from a long-term ACL injury, is another out of contract this summer without an extension option. Jade Moore and Emily Ramsey could also depart for free once their loans at Reading and Everton respectively end unless new deals are agreed.
The eight other players due to be out of contract in 2023 all have options until 2024 that could yet be triggered. That includes Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper winner Mary Earps and influential box-to-box midfielder Hayley Ladd, both of whom the club want to tie to longer term deals.
Vilde Boe Risa, Martha Thomas, Maria Thorisdottir, Hannah Blundell, back-up goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley and on-loan youngster Carrie Jones are also under contract until 2023 with options.
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