Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone expressed enduring appreciation for departing manager Marc Skinner, underscoring his role in supporting her through a deeply difficult period when her father passed away in September 2024. Skinner's five-year tenure ended by mutual agreement, with Toone describing how he combined emotional presence with the freedom to perform on the pitch. Club captain Maya le Tissier similarly acknowledged Skinner's pivotal role in her development, crediting him with her recruitment and appointment to the leadership role.

Whilst Skinner's management saw United achieve unprecedented Champions League progression and secure the 2024 Women's FA Cup, the team's fourth-place finish last season left them outside European qualification and contributed to his departure following fan criticism. The club must now appoint a replacement manager before the 2026-27 season begins in one month, while navigating the departures of key players including striker Melvine Malard to Chelsea and defender Gabby George to Brighton. United's shift toward youth development recruitment comes against broader concerns about investment levels in the women's programme compared to competing clubs.