Manchester United staff have been left stunned by the “brutal” dismissal of the club’s long-serving head of team operations as part of the restructuring by Ineos at Old Trafford. On a day when it emerged that further redundancies are planned, with more than 100 staff now at risk of losing their jobs, The Times has revealed the shock decision to part company with Jackie Kay after almost 30 years serving the club. Kay, from a United-supporting family, has worked at the club since 1995, initially as executive assistant to David Gill, the former chief executive, before taking charge of first-team logistics for more than a decade at the Carrington training ground. She was promoted to head of team operations in October 2023, only a few months before Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos became co-owners, and was a hugely popular figure with the players as well as a succession of managers. One insider described Kay as “the oil in the machine”, the conduit beyond the manager and the players. ...
The English county of Devon is in the spotlight, with two of the best three teams in the country making the long journey south-west in the FA Cup fourth round. I lived in Exeter for two years and never felt more disconnected from football. For some, rugby union is more synonymous with the area than football — the Exeter Chiefs won the Premiership in 2017 and 2020 — but dig beneath the surface and look beyond the stunning coastline, popular tourist hotspots and cream teas and you will find an area that has forged its own footballing culture. Devon’s two English Football League (EFL) clubs have never been in the top flight and neither have won a major trophy. Plymouth are bottom of the Championship, while Exeter are 18th in League One. Torquay United have a proud heritage but are now in the National League South, the sixth tier, after falling on hard times. Devon is the fourth-biggest county in England by area, but it is sparsely populated. The fact Dev...