Manchester United are in discussions with Cheltenham Town about the possibility of the League 1 side becoming their feeder club.
The Robins, who have yet to score a goal in their opening ten games this season and who are now just one game away from breaking Coventry City’s 100-year record, have been identified by United chiefs as the perfect breeding ground to provide valuable experience to their younger players.
SEVILLA, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Anthony Martial of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League match between Sevilla v Manchester United at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 20, 2023 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by Soccrates/Getty Images)
A Red Devils source told Paddy Power News:
“This is an excellent opportunity to prepare players for life playing in a crap team, by sending them to another crap team to gain valuable first-team experience.
“If they return to Old Trafford without any confidence or belief, then they will fit the profile of the perfect Manchester United player.”
United scouts are understood to have spent the past couple of weeks at Cheltenham getting to know the club a little better. They have even picked up some valuable training techniques to bring back to the Theatre of Dreams.
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“We particularly like their idea of using bigger goals in training” one explained, “Having said that, we would need to make ours even wider for some of our players to find the back of the net.”
United, who have made their worst start to a top-flight season since the Pet Shop Boys released their debut album, are desperately trying to find solutions to improve their fortunes on the pitch, but this latest idea has reportedly baffled some of the club’s senior pros.
CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 30: General view of play as Will Boyle of Cheltenham Town wins the aerial ball during the Checkatrade Trophy match between Cheltenham Town and Arsenal U21 at Whaddon Road on October 30, 2018 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
One player, who for obvious reasons wishes to remain anonymous, told us:
“Sending some of the lads down to Cheltenham is not the answer in my opinion. They do not have the experience of throwing a manager under the bus like we have at United.
“It takes years to perfect skills like that and I’d be surprised if some of our younger players were up to the mark.
“On the plus side, at least we’ll be sorted for tickets to the festival.”
Cheltenham Town boss Darrell Clarke, who was only appointed on Monday, claimed after their 2-0 defeat to Fleetwood Town that his players “needed support” as they try to avoid claiming the unwanted record and his bosses have already given him the dreaded vote of confidence.
One of the club’s directors explained to Paddy Power News that they were excited at the prospect of a tie-in with United, although they intend to tread carefully.
“They offered us Andre Onana and Anthony Martial for Saturday’s game; we told them thanks but no thanks. We are in a desperate position, but not that f***ing desperate.”
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