Ex-CEO Ed Woodward who left Manchester United in 2021 stands to make £1.5m windfall from sale

Ed Woodward, former executive vice-president of Manchester United, will earn around £1.5 million from the sale of the club.

Woodward left United in 2021 following the European Super League debacle. He was considered a divisive figure among fans after nine years at the helm of their business operations.

However, he retained a minority stake in the club that will net him a seven-figure windfall once the sale is complete.

Woodward, who has been the subject of violent fan protests over issues including transfer deals and United’s lack of success, is the only individual outside the Glazer family to own a ‘B’ share in the club.

Each ‘B’ share grants its owner 10 votes. They make up 67 percent of the club’s total shareholding. Woodward owns 0.05 of a B share, which could be worth £1.5m if the club is sold for £4.5bn.

Woodward left United in 2021 after the European Super League debacle

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was one of the confirmed bidders before the deadline

Meanwhile, Nick Train, the prominent financier whose London-based investment fund also owns stakes in Juventus and Celtic, is about to receive a £312m windfall. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks, submitted a bid for United in the region of £4.5bn on Friday, as Sportsmail had predicted.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was the other confirmed bidder before the deadline, with his offer said to be worth £4bn. On Saturday it was reported that US hedge fund Elliott had also filed interest breaking. It has not been revealed if there are other bidders, but the final price could rise above the known offers.

Joel Glazer owns the most B shares, at 19.11 per cent, which could net him £573m from a £4.5bn sale. His sister Darcie’s ‘B’ shareholding is 18.15 percent, while the remainder is split between brothers Bryan (17.23 percent), Avram (17.23 percent), Kevin (13.77 percent) and Edward (12.99 percent). Joel and Avram, who are involved in the day-to-day running of the club, are said to be less interested in a sale than their brothers and may hold out for a higher price.

The remaining ‘A’ shares, which offer one vote each, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The largest holder is Lindsell Train, the London-based investment firm, with 20.85 per cent, worth £312m from a £4.5bn sale. Run by Train, one of the City’s most successful and highest-paid fund managers, the company is also Juventus’ biggest shareholder outside of the Agnelli family. He has a 6.95 percent stake in the Serie A club.

Lindsell Train, whose investments in soccer clubs are unusual among British investment funds, also have a stake in Celtic.

The next largest ‘A’ shareholders in United are US asset management firm Ariel Investments (16 percent) and Massachusetts Financial Services (6.49 percent).

Marathon Asset Management, another London-based firm, owns 4.47 percent.

Joel Glazer (C) owns the majority of the B shares, with 19.11%, which could net him £573m from a £4.5bn sale.