Why is Wilcox in line of fire from Man Utd fans?

During Manchester United's 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, home fans directed their anger towards director of football Jason Wilcox. Singing his name along with an expletive, the majority of supporters, including several times, expressed their disdain for him. This came less than two weeks after United defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the club's hierarchy for failing to strengthen the squad, specifically targeting Wilcox.

Wilcox, a former England winger who won the Premier League with Blackburn in 1994-95, joined United in April 2024 as technical director after 15 months at Manchester City. At City, he collaborated with Omar Berrada, the current United chief executive, and Stephen Torpey, United's head of academy. Upon his arrival at United, Wilcox was expected to oversee all technical aspects of the club, reporting to the sporting director.

However, after Dan Ashworth was sacked due to disagreements over the manager's replacement, Wilcox's responsibilities were altered.

Despite not being involved in transfer budgets or decisions on Manuel Ugarte's injury, or the backfiring of a £26m deal for Marcus Rashford, Wilcox has become the target of United fans' frustration. The team's poor performance, with eight consecutive losses, has led to speculation about his role and the club's decision to focus on strengthening the midfield while neglecting other positions.

Wilcox, who rarely interacts with the media, is being blamed for the team's current struggles, although the general consensus suggests that manager Michael Carrick has been inadequately supported.