Ed Woodward insists success on the pitch is Manchester United's 'top priority' despite their refusal to sack beleaguered manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United have lost four of their last six Premier League matches, including the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool and a 2-0 schooling by Manchester City, conceding 12 goals in the defeats.
Although United are top of Champions League Group F, they are level on points with Villarreal, United's opponents in their penultimate group stage game next week. United were eliminated from the League Cup at the first hurdle by West Ham in September.
Despite the dire form of just five wins from 11 league games, United have resisted sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but the Manchester Evening News understands high-ranking figures have privately accepted a change of manager will be required.
Solskjaer could still cling on until the end of the season, when Woodward will have vacated his post as executive vice-chairman. Woodward tendered his resignation in April following his support for the doomed Super League concept.
Woodward was quoted in United's financial results for the first quarter, in which the club posted an increase in revenue by 16% - up to £1265million - due to the return of matchgoers to Old Trafford.
In a statement attached to the results, Woodward said: "While these financial results today demonstrate our resilience through the pandemic, our top priority is success on the pitch.
"The manager, players and everyone at the club are determined to achieve that objective.”
United's net debt is down slightly to £439.7million while £17.4m was recouped from the transfer of Daniel James to Leeds United, as well as the sell-on fee from Romelu Lukaku's move from Inter Milan to Chelsea.
The 23% increase in wages to £88.5m is a consequence of the signings of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have chosen to host half-year and full-year conference calls, so will not run through specific statistics surrounding the seismic re-signing of Ronaldo on transfer deadline day in August.
The increased retail post-lockdown and strong kit launches drove 8% rise in commercial revenues, boosted by Ronaldo's return, although his impact only reflects the final month of the quarter.
