Latest news with #Darren
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Alexandra Burke admits baby dream on hold as she sets sights on intense challenge
EXCLUSIVE: Mum-of-two Alexandra Burke shares future plans with footballer partner Darren Randolph, but the chart-topper has set out her priorities Singer Alexandra Burke knows what she wants out of life – it involves getting fit and expanding her family. The X Factor winner, who is already a mum of two, can't wait to have more kids with her fiancé, footballer Darren Randolph. But first, the 36-year-old wants to run two marathons. Alexandra says: 'I'm going to do London next year and, by the grace of God, New York. And then think about more children. I'm desperate for more – we'd love four – but we're good with whatever the universe gives us because we're very lucky to even have two. 'We'd love to try, but just not right now… we're fitness freaks at the minute. I'm loving work and enjoying just being a mum and an actress.' The former X Factor winner says her health came into focus eight years ago when she lost her mum, the Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell at the age of 53. She was diabetic and suffered kidney failure. Alexandra says that taking care of herself became even more of a priority after the arrival of her children, aged three and two. She and Darren have never publicly shared their names or gender in a bid to help keep them out of the limelight. Alexandra says: 'I've always been in the fitness mindset. As long as I can be healthy and strong for my kids, nothing else matters. I feel your health is your wealth and you've just got to take care of stuff as much as you can. We live in a world where you hear about so much negativity. If there's one thing we all can control, it's what we put in our bodies, how much we move our bodies, create great endorphins and just try and find happiness in every thing that we try and do.' Having run the London Marathon this year, Alexandra caught the bug. 'Marathons come first now,' she says. 'Running gives me so much joy. I only ran 10k once in lockdown or would just do 5k on the treadmill. Now I do nine miles.' The star has also set herself another fitness goal – the notoriously tough Hyrox challenge, which tests endurance and strength. Alexandra will be doing it alongside Middlesbrough FC goalkeeper Darren, 38. She reckons that couples who train together really do stay together, revealing that their exercise sessions have further cemented their already strong relationship. Alexandra adds: 'Darren's an athlete… know what I mean? I've got to keep up with him. He pushes me and goes, 'Alex, come on… you're the one that's always optimistic, positive. You're having a bit of a low day today, but we'll just go out for a run together'.' Working out with Darren has transformed Alexandra's body shape – and she believes that for her, exercise is a much better weight-loss option than fat jabs. She says: 'It's your body, your choice. But my choice is to make sure my a*** is in that gym and I'm running.' Also keeping her blood pumping is her upcoming role as Morticia in The Addams Family musical tour, which begins this month. But a knee injury she sustained in rehearsals threatened to halt her star turn before it even began. At the Grand Prix Ball for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Alexandra said: 'I injured myself a few weeks ago with a suspected torn meniscus. The MRI came back and it wasn't torn… it would've been awful. I'm still able to do the show.' As well as her X Factor success in 2008, Alexandra finished as a runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 with her pro partner Gorka Marquez, had a No.1 album in 2009 and has starred in the West End stage shows The Bodyguard and Sister Act. The Londoner has also just made her on-screen acting debut in the new Paramount+ crime drama Curfew, alongside Cutting It star Sarah Parish. And as well as those marathons and babies, she has set her sights on Hollywood's bright lights. 'I'd love something in the Avengers, I'm not going to lie,' she admits. 'I want to be Wakanda! Nobody is hearing about Wakanda so I'm going to keep putting that in the universe. I'll even shave my head for it.'
Belfast Telegraph
7 days ago
- Climate
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: New leader hits birdie blitz as Rory McIlroy insists he 'can challenge' after keeping dream alive
Key updates 'We love you Darren' Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut McKibbin faces nerves wait to learn cut fate Rory says he can 'go on a run' to challenge this weekend Bryson makes the weekend with stunning 65 Friday weather forecast Round two tee times 4 minutes ago An ark just floated past the media centre That means the rain is back and it is hammering down in biblical proportions again. I really don't know how else to describe it, it is absolutely chucking it down and while it might be a short shower that last 10-15 minutes, it's really going to make things miserable out there for the players. Let's see how it affects them... 8 minutes ago Adam McKendry 'I feel really comfortable here': Clubhouse leader Brian Harman, who is at -8 after a second round 65 On the similarities between Hoylake and Portrush:"I feel really comfortable over here. I'm comfortable driving it. They're very different golf courses but the golf is similar. You've got to be able to flight your golf ball, you've got to know how far everything's going, then you can't get frustrated. You're going to get bad breaks, you're going to end up in funny spots where it doesn't seem fair and you just have to kind of outlast that stuff. Although the golf courses are different, the style of golf is very similar." His approach for Saturday:"I'll approach the weekend the same way (as 2023). The only thing I'm really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow and then I'll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag. If not, go to the second hole. It's a very boring approach that I take. I'm not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy. I know that I've got the game to do it, and it's just a matter of executing and staying in my own head. I would love to have a similar weekend (to 2023) and just play great the whole way through. There's going to be challenges. This is a hard golf course. The pins have been in really, really tough spots, and you've really got to think your way around it. Inevitably you're going to mis-hit some shots and end up in spots you don't want to be in, and the way you handle that will determine the outcome of the tournament for sure." 10 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Fitzpatrick doing a Lowry? It's now FOUR consecutive birdies to start to the back nine for the Englishman who has opened up a two-shot lead at the top. He's now six under par for the day. A couple more birdies in his final five holes and he could yet match Shane's Saturday 63 from 2019. 18 minutes ago 'We love you Darren' A single fan's voice can be heard after a loud and lengthy round of applause, whoops and whistles subsides when Clarke reaches the green for what will be the final time this week. The 2011 champion is very well-liked by Northern Ireland's golfing public, and they're making sure he knows it. The man who now gives his name to the 9th hole on the Dunluce Links, is also remembered for beating Tiger Woods in the final of the 2000 WGC World Matchplay. He closes out his week with a bogey to finish +6, but these fans have enjoyed watching him play one more time. NEW SOLO LEADER Matt Fitzpatrick is your new leader as he takes advantage of the short par-five 12th by hitting it in two and safely two-putting for the birdie that takes him to -9 and one clear of Brian Harman and Haotong Li! Over on the 18th green, as a half full stand awaits Darren Clarke, there was a gasp and a round of applause as the leaderboard was updated to send Fitzpatrick top. 28 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Haotong joins clubhouse Li'd Haotong Li matches yesterday's 67 to tie Brian Harman 's clubhouse lead of eight under par. Unfortunately for them, it looks like Matt Fitzpatrick is about to go one shot clear as he's on the par five 12th in two. 30 minutes ago Flag hunting Almost literally for Dustin Johnson as he takes aim with his second shot on the par-four 18th, it hits the green hard and bounces up... and hits the flag, dropping down a foot from the hole! Sometimes you get the breaks and that was certainly one of them - that will be a tap-in birdie for the two-time Major winner and he'll be in for the weekend at level-par! 34 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Tommy loves Portrush And Portrush loves Tommy Fleetwood (-1) Tommy Fleetwood on Twitter / X Privilege to play in front of the home crowds the last two days with their hero. Better day today for me and looking forward to a big push this weekend! @TheOpen Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) July 18, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 35 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Not to be for Darren Clarke He gave it a good rattle at the 17th to be fair to him. From 'other', he managed to get his approach shot just off the back edge, and his chip was close put came up a couple of feet short. At +5 with one to play, it's looking like there's just one final reception at 18 left to close out his tournament. 35 minutes ago Doing things Reit Welcome to the front page of the leaderboard, Kristoffer Reitan. The Norwegian has just birdied the par-five 12th, as most are to be fair, to get to -4 and knock Rory McIlroy off the big scoreboard in front of us in the media centre. It's been a fine round for the 27-year-old, who is the reigning Challenge Tour champion and won the Belgian Open earlier this year, as he's currently on track for a bogey-free six-under round having carded an eagle and four birdies. 39 minutes ago Adam McKendry Revelation of the week: There's a players' barber in the locker room After shooting a three-under 68 on Friday to get to five-under-par for the tournament, Denmark's Rasmus Højgaard was asked (among other things, of course) whether he'd had a midweek haircut. "I did actually. I took the flow away. It got a bit too long, and I sort of thought, no, this is the time. So I managed to get a haircut on Wednesday. So far it's actually worked out," he said. Did he go into town to get it done? "There's a barber in the locker room. I put my name down on Monday and had to postpone it for Tuesday, and then I couldn't find Tuesday. Then I had to do it Wednesday, and I finally did it. It's been working out." Life of luxury, isn't it. 43 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Clarke's birdie battle Two holes to play and two birdies needed for Darren to get to the +3 'maybe, but unlikely' pile. Considering his tee-shot at 17 has gone right and been classed as landing in the 'other' section of the course - as opposed to normal headings like 'fairway' or 'bunker' - we can assume it's not in great shape. 45 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Three-way tie at the top And it's a European who makes his way to the -8 alongside Harman and Li, as Matt Fitzpatrick continues the perfect start to his back nine, adding birdie at 11. With the par five 12th to come, we could soon see a new outright leader. 46 minutes ago Adam McKendry 'I'm proud of my Irish heritage': Keegan Bradley thrilled to play well on 'home soil' On shooting a four-under 67: "That was fun. Played really, really well. I've been playing so poorly here over the last couple years. It feels nice to put a nice round together, nice two days together. I played nice yesterday as well. But what a fun day." On going bogey-free:"I really am proud of that. Like I said, I've struggled here, so to be in contention, to have played the way I did today means a lot. I never know what I'm going to get when I come over here, so this is a nice bonus." On his Irish heritage:"(My family is from) Cork. I'm really proud of my heritage to be from here. I played the Irish Open here. I always dreamt of playing in the Irish Open; I played it at this course (in 2012) when I made the Tour. It's exciting to be back." 49 minutes ago Gareth Hanna Getting the chop: Big names set to miss the cut Padraig Harrington finished up nine over par for the tournament after a 76 today and bows out for the week. He's not the only big name that fans will miss out on seeing over the weekend. Adam Scott 's eight over par round left him tying Harrington's overall score, with US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed just one shot better off at +8. Needing a miracle back nine to get through, sitting at +6 at the turn, the same score at which Louis Oosthuizen bows out. Stewart Cink finished at +4, which is sufficient to secure the weekend off. The fighters Our own Darren Clarke is at +5 with two holes to play. Two birdies required to give himself any chance and get in alongside McKibbin at +3 - which has now drifted to a tie for 80th, by the way. Patrick Cantlay is at +3 but he has five holes to go to creep up another one. Ryan Fox (thru 10) and Collin Morikawa (thru 7) are at +4 and need to improve. 50 minutes ago Commentator's curse Immediately after bigging up Chris Gotterup, he goes and bogeys the par-four 14th after what appears to be a sculled chip through the green and drops a shot to fall back to -4. Still, if he can rally and finish strongly then he still has a chance of tying the low round of the day. Today 04:24 PM 'My mind went numb': Shaun Norris on making a TEN on the par-four fourth on his way to missing the cut at +5 What happened:"I hit a very poor tee shot, the first one. Then proceeded to hit the next one straight in the bunker. Now I'm trying to chase something, trying to make the best score out of it. Unfortunately the fourth shot caught the lip, then I stuck with the same club and tried to do the same. After that, the mind sort of went a little bit numb. But it happens. Golf is golf, there's nothing you can do about it. Made a number, and I had to accept it and carry on." On bouncing back with birdie at the fifth:"You've just got to accept it. Plain and simple, you've got to accept it. There's nothing you can do about it, the past is the past. I knew that it happened, I made the number, I made the 10 on the hole. I just said, okay, now instead of making two or three or four birdies coming back, I've now got to make five or six. I was happy with the way I fought back after that. Unfortunately I didn't make as many putts as I would have liked to, but that's how it goes." Today 04:23 PM Gareth Hanna Mickelson cruising through to weekend Barring disaster, Phil should be here for the weekend after this. He drives it just off the front edge of the 17th and sets up a birdie putt inside five feet. That would get him back to level par for the tournament and resting easy. Edit: Knocked that in for birdie, parred the last to get in at E. See you tomorrow, Phil! Today 04:18 PM Gareth Hanna Another birdie coming up for Shane? Lowry's 50-yard pitch at the par five seventh is good - and sets up a 'should-make' that could take him up alongside Rory at -3. Playing partner Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, has a similar length putt to go within one. Ominous from the world number one. Edit: Scheffler's in! Never in doubt. Slight right to left break and it's right in the middle. Four under through seven and one behind the leaders. But Shane's putt is always left and that's a big miss. Stays at -2. Today 04:17 PM 'I'm enjoying the course a lot more than six years ago': Francesco Molinari, who has made the cut at +1 "I'm enjoying the week here more than 2019 just because it's a lot, I think, to come back as a defending champion. I'm enjoying definitely the course a lot more this time than six years ago. Apart from that, I'm probably playing better than I did that week, I just need to make a few more putts." Load more Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘I'll be more nervous than Rory McIlroy on first tee' – Pádraig Harrington's dawn dilemma
The R&A hopes to have more clarity on the viability of Portmarnock as an Open venue by the end of this year, and Harrington would be the obvious choice to get the action underway there. But after watching Tom Watson come close to winning The Open at the age of 59 at Turnberry in 2009, 53-year-old Harrington still believes he can win a third Claret Jug. His first concern is to get the ball safely away on one of the most treacherous opening holes in Major golf with out-of-bounds on both sides of the fairway and behind the green. 'Look, my goal is to hit the first shot and the last shot this week,' Harrington said. 'So that's in my head, that's what I'm trying to do. That's what I'm thinking. I'm sure the bookmakers will tell you that's not a reality. But I have to prepare. 'If I get there on Sunday and get myself in contention, I have to prepare to be ready for that moment and see how that goes.' Still competitive, Harrington does not want to start thinking of himself as a ceremonial player. But he considers it an honour to follow in the footsteps of Darren Clarke, who blasted a driver down the middle and made birdie when he got the action underway at Royal Portrush in 2019. 'Obviously, it is a ceremonial thing, but it is a great honour,' Harrington said. 'I have [hesitated when asked] in the past, put it like that. But this time I didn't hesitate. I decided this was a good time to do it at Royal Portrush. And it doesn't preclude me from doing it again.' He equates his nerves with those he felt in the 1991 Walker Cup at Portmarnock, when he partnered Paul McGinley in foursomes. 'Yes, very nervous,' he said. 'It's not a comfortable tee shot for anybody. I accepted it before I actually thought about the tee shot.' Could anything compare? 'The Walker Cup in 1991. Couldn't see the ball,' he said. 'You've got the inlet to the sea on the right and the clubhouse on the left and you're hitting off an upslope into the wind. ADVERTISEMENT 'That was absolute nerves, and I would have followed that up with my first shot of the Ryder Cup [in 1999], but that was a seven iron off the fairway.' Clarke has not been shy with advice, but it hasn't helped Harrington. 'Yeah, bloody Darren,' Harrington joked. 'We talked about it and he says, 'I was going to hit the little three-iron down there and I was so nervous', so he took out the driver and bunted it down there because it had a bigger head. 'And I'm saying, 'Darren, this isn't helping me!'. Geez, I don't know what conditions are going to be, but I really don't fancy hitting a driver off the first tee, hopefully it would be the three iron.' He rates Royal Portrush as his favourite Irish links because its risk-reward nature makes it a great mental test. 'You know, there's out of bounds on what, four of the first five holes that comes into play,' he said. 'You could say twice on the first, so five times you've got [OB] stakes in the first five holes that do come into play. 'I think that the great thing about Portrush, maybe this is why I like it so much, because of the risk-reward. 'If you hit good shots, you can make birdies. There's a huge mental task out there because you could stand on the likes of the second tomorrow and think, yeah, this is a good birdie opportunity, hit in the bunker, end up making bogey. And it's the frustration that the player has to deal with. 'That's probably what leans me towards this course, that I've always liked courses that are mental battles.' It was suggested that Rory McIlroy just had to get his first tee shot away to banish the memories of 2019, when he made an eight at the first. 'It's only about me getting my first tee shot away!' Harrington joked. 'You know, he's going to play 72 holes. I don't know, I wonder who'd be more nervous on the first tee. I think I would be! 'I haven't really thought about it, to be honest. You're reminding me that he'd hit it out of bounds, I'd forgotten about that ... kind of.'
The 42
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'I don't want to be known as a ceremonial golfer' - Harrington torn over accepting first-tee honour at Portrush
WHEN THE EARLY-WEEK announcement is made as to whom will hit the opening tee shot at an Open Championship, our gut reaction is generally a brief but uncomplicated kind of warmth; a kind of good for them. But when Pádraig Harrington was announced as the recipient of the honour for this week's Open in Portrush, the reaction was a little more complex. It's not to say Harrington is not deserving of the honour, but would he really want an effectively ceremonial role? Harrington being Harrington, he does not tee it up at any tournament without telling himself he is there to compete. This is not vanity or delusion, either: Harrington cannot tee it up without telling himself he can win. (In Pádraigspeak, this is called 'creating the reality in my head that I can win.') Our instincts, as it turns out, were bang on the money. 'Obviously, it is a ceremonial thing, but it is a great honour', says Harrington. 'So I decided that the honour was more important to me than necessarily thinking I'm… I can accept that I'm in that position, put it like that, for the honour. 'I have [hesitated when asked] in the past, put it like that. But this time I didn't hesitate. I decided this was a good time to do it, at Royal Portrush. And it doesn't preclude me from doing it again. 'It is a tremendous honour. And what it means to me is the fact I accepted it in the sense of I don't want to be known as a ceremonial golfer. I don't feel like I am at the moment, and I'm prepared to put that aside to have that honour.' And so Harrington will get us underway at 6.35am tomorrow morning, where he will play alongside Tom McKibbin and Nicolai Hojgaard. You'll remember the tee shot: Rory McIlroy sent his out of bounds at the start of his round in 2019. Though the fairway is generously wide, there is an internal out-of-bounds to the left and right. 'I accepted it before I actually thought about the tee shot', says Harrington. 'I'd definitely be very nervous about that tomorrow, yeah. 'Anything in play will do me. I'll be doing a bit of posing after I hit. No matter how bad the shot is, I'll be holding my finish and pretending it's a good one.' Portrush native Darren Clarke hit the opening tee shot in 2019, and spoke afterwards of being surprised by the leaking of his own tears when he was met with his ovation. It didn't affect him too badly, given he made birdie. 'Bloody Darren', replies Harrington when asked if Clarke has offered any advice. ''He says, 'I was going to hit a little three iron down there but I so nervous', so he took out the driver and bunted it down there because it was a bigger head. 'And I'm saying, 'Darren, this isn't helping me!'. 'I don't know what the condition is going to be, but I really don't fancy hitting a driver off the first tee. Hopefully it would be the three iron.' Harrington and Clarke are both on the champions' tour now, though Harrington is much more competitive, winning the US Senior Open at the end of June. In spite of that success, he was somewhat gloomy as to his prospects of truly contending this week in Portrush. 'My goal is to hit the first shot and the last shot this week', says Harrington. 'So in my head, that's what I'm trying to do. That's what I'm thinking. I'm sure the bookmakers will tell you that's not a reality. But I have to prepare. 'If I get there on Sunday and get myself in contention, I have to prepare to be ready for that moment and see how that goes. 'I definitely feel like I can win an Open Championship. Do I feel like I'm going to this Open Championship? I would say, like a lot of times going into it, I wish it was a few more weeks, but I have to play with what I've got tomorrow. And as I said, I've got to create the reality in my head that I can win. 'It would be an incredible achievement at my age (53) to win an Open. To win it here back in Ireland would be incredible on top of that. Advertisement 'As I said, 2019 was a phenomenal achievement for the Open to come here. Then it was a phenomenal achievement for Shane to win it, that was the icing on the cake. 'You can wish for it, but you can't expect something like that. For us to do it again, any of the Irish guys to come out here and win again would be astounding. Yes, I would like it to be me, that's what I have to plan for in my head. 'But I'll freely admit that I'll settle for any Irish winner this week.' We couldn't speak with Harrington without asking for his impression of Scottie Scheffler's viral meditations in the press room, during which the world's best golfer admitted that his lucrative, otherworldly success on the course is utterly unfulfilling, asking aloud, 'What's the point?' 'To win the Byron Nelson Championship at home, I literally worked my entire life to become good at golf to have an opportunity to win that tournament', said Scheffler. 'You win it, you celebrate, get to hug my family, my sister's there, it's such an amazing moment. Then it's like, okay, what are we going to eat for dinner? Life goes on.' Deep breath here – Harrington is unsurprisingly expansive in his thoughts. 'I'm not sure what he was trying to articulate, and I wouldn't be putting words in his mouth, but I know I'm still celebrating my US Open senior win, and it goes on for weeks', says Harrington. 'Every time somebody says 'well done' to me, I get a little bit of acceptance and enjoyment out of it. So I think he was trying to articulate something. I don't want to compare myself to him, but I genuinely still have a real love for this game. 'I enjoy every bit of it. It brings me tremendous satisfaction, and I don't think I have to shy away from that. Just because I love golf doesn't make me a bad father or a bad parent or anything. 'They're separate entities. You can enjoy everything there is about golf and still be good elsewhere and do the right things. I just love playing golf. If I wasn't doing this, I'd be sitting in front of the shopping channel, spilling ice cream on myself, buying packages that I never open. So maybe golf is saving my life. 'Even a shot fulfils me on the golf course. Going and hitting shots on the range fulfils me. I remember watching Christy Snr hit shots out in Royal Dublin, this is past his prime of playing, he'd be 65 years of age, and he took sheer joy in hitting practice shots. 'If you hear stories about the likes of [Ben] Hogan, I think Hogan was just happiest when he was that age hitting shots on the range. You know, I'm like that. I like competing, no doubt about it – I really like competing – but sometimes it can be hard work. But I love practice. 'I love hitting shots and the imagination of it, dreaming of what can be. I don't know what to think about, you know, was he articulating or trying to say something? He's going to be asked about that for the next… the minute he doesn't play well, that's where it's going to be 'Oh, that was the day'. 'So he was being honest. But yeah, people are going to ask him about that for a long time. And he obviously loves the practice, I just don't think he loves the grind of it. I don't think he needs to separate it. 'And maybe as I said, I've often said this later on in my life, I wish I spent more time enjoying my wins when they happened. Like, when I win now, I make sure to enjoy it. 'For me, there's a huge point. But I think you have to mentally, for your own brain, when you win, really go out there and enjoy it. 'Every time you win, you have to separate it and go 'Right, I'm going to enjoy this moment and not make it a moment' – you know? If it's a big win, I'm not averse to people taking a couple of weeks off and really enjoying it. 'I'm not going to say how they enjoy it. But that would be one thing I would have said to my younger self. 'I've won tournaments on a Sunday night, I'd be thinking about what I'm going to do tomorrow to get better. Whereas now I'm just thinking, I'm going to enjoy this for a couple of weeks. 'And anybody who said, and pretty much everybody has said, well done to me, I like it. I enjoy somebody saying, well done. I still take the kudos for that. I take satisfaction for that. And I suppose I make an effort to enjoy those wins because the truth of it is, they don't happen as often. 'I know Scottie wins a lot but, when it comes to the end of his career, he might have thought he would have won more, it eventually stops.'
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd draw up unusual summer transfer plan in bid to fix PSR issue
Manchester United are taking a new approach to transfers and have offered a number of their young stars to other clubs in order to try and earn greater profits in the future Manchester United are adopting a new transfer approach and offering up academy players to other clubs. The Red Devils have compiled a list of their young players, all 18 or older, and provided teams the opportunity to sign their talent. United are said to be willing to sell the players essentially for free with the caveat of high sell-on clauses being included in deals, the MEN reports. The news is reported to have come as a shock to some families and representatives, but United say players have been consulted. Clubs are said to have been surprised the the names offered up. That has stemmed from the fact that the players' arrivals at Old Trafford came via sizeable transfer fees to land them. The move comes as United seek to reform their approach to abiding by Profit and Sustainability rules. The club are attempting a new tactic in gaining transfer fees for players they do not believe will make it to the first-team. United also suggest it is 'standard practice' to make decisions ono the futures of their academy products at 18. They affird players are within the rights to turn down moves. The MEN add that significant changes are taking place at the club's academy. Some claim the desire to cut costs around the club has influenced decisions in the set-up. The academy has also recently seen Manchester United legend Darren Fletcher take a new role. The ex-Scotland international is the new coach of the club's under-18s side, taking on his fifth different position at the club. Fletcher has previously coached the under-16 side, doing so on his return to United in October 2020. The former midfielder has also seen roles of first-team coach and technical director in his second stint. 'I am really excited to take on this new role and increase my responsibility to directly develop our young players," said Fletcher. "I'm looking forward to working with such a talented age-group; supporting them to reach their potential and preparing them to enjoy careers at the highest level possible." United's director of football Jason Wilcox added: 'We are delighted that Darren will lead our Under-18s group. He knows exactly what it takes to be a successful Academy graduate and has played a key role in shaping the pathway for so many of our young players in recent years. 'Darren's excellent relationships across the entire staff will only increase the strong connection between the Academy and first team, further enhancing our ability to produce world-class players ready to excel at Manchester United.'
