Manchester United cancel end-of-season awards dinner for the first time since 2021/22

Manchester United have decided to cancel their end-of-season awards ceremony, as confirmed this evening by The Athletic.

The awards dinner was scheduled to take place on May 20, five days before the Red Devils travel to Wembley to lock horns with neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final – a trophy their rivals currently hold.

However, conversations between the hierarchy – including manager Erik ten Hag – have led to the board opting against holding the event this year. The last time they pulled the plug was in 2021/2022 after United’s tumultuous season ended with Ralf Rangnick at the reins and the club finishing sixth.

This time around, they’d be incredibly lucky to finish as high as sixth based on their recent string of performances. United are winless in three straight matches, conceding six goals in that time and scoring just once. As a result, Ten Hag’s men sit eighth-placed and on track to record a worst-ever Premier League finish.

The awards will still be distributed amongst the players from all of the men’s, women’s and academy sides, which includes the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.

It’s thought that the reasoning behind the decision is to ensure the squad are fully focused on reigning victorious in the final, although the wide speculation and uncertainty over Ten Hag’s job, along with dire results, is believed to have played a part.