A world of madness is how Marc Skinner described managing Manchester United’s women’s team.

His comment came in response to a question about Matt Johnson, who is interim head of women’s football, and whether he would like him to be given the job permanently. Johnson, he said, is the balance in the mad world Skinner finds himself in.

It has been a turbulent year for Skinner, despite him managing to lead the club to their first major trophy with May’s FA Cup victory.

While some of that turbulence is down to the team’s performance on the pitch and their disappointing fifth-place finish last season, much of it has been caused by the club’s perceived attitude towards their women’s team.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s co-owner, has repeatedly indicated his indifference and disinterest in their affairs.

On Friday, United showed members of the press around their facilities while Skinner answered questions about support from the club’s ownership.

Telegraph Sport looks into the accusations that have been thrown United’s way this year and delivers our verdict.

The women’s team vs Sir Jim Ratcliffe

1. Accusation: Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not interested in the women’s team

Evidence: Ratcliffe’s comments on United’s women’s side speak for themselves. In June, he said they were a “work in progress” and that plans for the team were “TBC”.

Ratcliffe has since made other remarks, claiming the women’s team “cost £10 million” while the men “make £800 million” and in an interview with fan magazine United We Stand, the Ineos chief said: “We need to sort out the main issue – the men’s team. The women’s team is an opportunity.”

He chose not to attend the Women’s FA Cup final in May and instead watched the men’s Premier League game with Arsenal.

Skinner has regularly emphasised that he feels supported by the club’s ownership and that they have a “love and affinity” with the women’s team. This response was heavily criticised by Ian Wright on his Crossways podcast with former England captain Steph Houghton accused Skinner of “dancing” to the ownership.

‘I feel supported and support isn’t always finance’

Pushed on whether he could understand the strong and negative reaction to the wording of Ratcliffe’s comments, Skinner said: “Maybe so, but the one thing I’ll say is words are cheap but actions last longer.

“For me, I see the actions. It’s hard for me to hear those comments, but actually that’s not what I see from the working group that is every day with us. Would I love the biggest budget in the league? Of course I would, I think everyone would. We want to grow, we want women to have the same rights, to grow those rights, to have the finances available for all resources. But unfortunately we’ve got to work for that because we’re starting from behind.

“The reality is I don’t see it, I see it in support and support isn’t always finance. Support is actually knowing you’ve got a strategy, you’re going to move to this. But decisions happen in football. I understand it, but that’s not what we see. Our actions are supported and we’d all like more, but I feel supported in the fact that everybody in this club wants our team to do well.”

Verdict: It is difficult for Skinner to criticise Ratcliffe openly, but it is clear he has little interest in the fortunes of the women’s team. That may not be the case for the rest of the Ineos working group, while others working behind the scenes, Omar Berrada for example, may be more invested. But Ratcliffe himself seems happy to be open about the women’s team not being his priority. Why should we not take him at his word?

2. Accusation: Manchester United have downgraded the women’s team’s facilities

Evidence: In June, it was revealed the women’s team had been moved into portable, temporary buildings at Carrington to allow the men’s side to use their facilities while theirs were being revamped.

Skinner defended the club’s facilities at the start of the season and Telegraph Sport was one of several media outlets to be given a tour of the buildings they use on a daily basis.

We found that the facilities on offer are indeed of a high standard, with impressive gym space, a pool and high-quality pitches. Their main building cannot be dressed up as anything other than temporary in design, but it is still a perfectly pleasant space for the players and staff to spend time in. The canteen is perhaps a tad small compared to other clubs, but it could be argued this may help with player integration.

Verdict: United are far from slumming it but it should also be noted that most teams in the Women’s Super League (WSL) have access to high-quality facilities. English clubs generally have better training grounds than teams abroad and United are not unique in having gym space, pools and nice pitches. It is, however, commendable that the club opened their doors to the media.

3. Accusation: Dan Ashworth’s departure is a blow to the women’s team

Evidence: Telegraph Sport reported this week that United’s women’s team were “deflated” over the departure of sporting director Ashworth, who had been one of their biggest supporters at the club.

Skinner spoke highly of Ashworth and the relationship he had with him, but insisted that lines of communication will remain open with other individuals.

“With the Ineos working group we had two really big event meetings,” Skinner said. “We all agreed on certain behaviours, certain things that we do. Those are going into how we perform in our training sessions in every part of our basic performance.

“That will continue. We are due another one of those soon. That’s something we do on a daily basis with performance. I have direct report with Collette [Roche] COO and also Jason [Wilcox, the technical director] from the football perspective. So we have operations and support for football for me. So that can happen on a daily basis.”

Verdict: There is no doubt Ashworth’s departure is a big blow. He understood the importance of having a successful women’s team and it was notable how he was present at the club’s game with Arsenal earlier this season.

The likes of Berrada, who was successfully involved with the women’s team at Manchester City, will be key going forward but it remains to be seen how acutely Ashworth’s absence will be felt.

4. Accusation: Marc Skinner should be getting more out of the team

Evidence: While winning the FA Cup was a highlight in United’s history, their performance in the WSL last season was well below what it should have been.

Skinner has acknowledged that they still have work to do to catch up to sides such as Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. Wright criticised Skinner for claiming United are a “new team” and went as far to liken one of his post-match interviews to the TV character David Brent. Criticism from the fans has also been fierce and Skinner admitted he feels the pressure.

“I’m in a job where you naturally feel the pressures of a situation. Of course I do, I’m human.

“After three or four years in the job I’m used to dealing with that pressure and I don’t think there’s many managers that come under as much as I do. In that sense, I’m hardened to it. But there’s a balance between hardening to it and also doing your job effectively and being human still.

“The people I work with on a daily basis deserve the best of me. I give energy, I give commitment and I try to drive us forward. We live in a really difficult time of good teams in the league.

“People seem to think it’s easy – we should win this game and we should win that game. They forget we’re on a process of delivering for the long term as well. I’m sure Ian [Wright] has his reasons to think that and his rationales as to why he needs to push that remit. But I sit comfortably in the understanding of what I need to do for this club and to push the team forward.”

Verdict: United have gone backwards since their second-place finish in the 2022-23 season and Skinner has to carry responsibility for that. There are also players who have left who have hinted they did not enjoy their time at the club, including Irene Guerrero and Martha Thomas. The club also appears to have suffered since the departure of former assistant coach Martin Ho.

Equally, there is no denying Skinner has not been afforded the same budget as the clubs he is competing with. Could a different manager get more out of this team? Perhaps, depending on their credentials. But would they be given greater resources than Skinner has? That is unclear.

5. Accusation: Manchester United no longer appeal to top players

Evidence: In the past two summers we have seen big players and personalities leave United. In 2023 it was Alessia Russo and Ona Batlle. Last summer it was Mary Earps and Katie Zelem. The latter recently criticised the support and finances afforded to the women’s team.

Zelem was the club’s captain from the day they reformed in 2018 until her contract was not renewed at the end of last season. She claimed United had the potential to be the best women’s team in the world, but that it became obvious they were not a priority.

Verdict: The comments from former players coupled with Ratcliffe’s dismissive remarks, means there is every reason to believe players could be put off joining United. Why would a top player want to join a team that is viewed as merely an “opportunity”?

The reality is the club’s brand and status will always attract players and their stated ambition is to win the WSL by 2028.

That may appeal more to younger players and United have a good record when it comes to bringing in up and coming stars – Maya Le Tissier and Emma Watson, for example. But the very best in the women’s game may take more convincing when it comes to the club’s ambitions.