Today’s back pages: Paul Ince blasts Man Utd ‘money man’ Ed Woodward and England axe Jonny Bairstow

A round-up of the sport headlines from UK newspapers on 24 September

Ed Woodward is the executive vice-chairman of Manchester United
Ed Woodward is the executive vice-chairman of Manchester United 
(Image credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Ince hits out at United chief

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has come under fire from the club’s former midfielder Paul Ince.

Ex-England captain Ince has blasted “executive Ed”, says the Daily Star, claiming that the Red Devils have “lost their identity” and “fans aren’t getting quality they deserve”.

“We want cups not cash”, says the Daily Express headline, after Ince pointed the finger at “money man” Woodward.

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The “Guv’nor” said: “The results are going to be up and down all season. I’m prepared to accept that, as long as they challenge for the top four.

“I’m more concerned about the director of football situation and the way Ed Woodward is building the club. He’s rightly getting a lot of stick - people who appoint managers should be made accountable.

“For the results, for the structure of the club, for the recruitment, and so on. Woodward isn’t a football man, he’s a money man.

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“From that perspective, I’m sure he’s doing a great job - but the fans don’t give a toss about the money if it isn’t being invested back into the team.

“They want Manchester United-quality players on the pitch, to be entertained, to be winning things, and they’re not getting that. It doesn’t look like a United team any more.

“The fans at United are unbelievable, they’ll get behind the team no matter what. But they deserve so much more.”

Bairstow axed from Test squad

England have dropped Jonny Bairstow from the Test squad for the tour to New Zealand in November.

The Yorkshire wicketkeeper, who has been named in the Twenty20 squad, has been tipped to “come back stronger”, The Guardian and Metro report.

England and Wales Cricket Board selector Ed Smith said: “He’s had a very busy summer, it’s an opportunity for him to step back, reset and come back better.”

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England Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand

  • Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England T20 squad for the five-match series in New Zealand

  • Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Pat Brown (Worcestershire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), James Vince (Hampshire)