Why Man Utd fans turn their anger on Wilcox after Bournemouth loss

As the final minutes ticked away at Old Trafford on Sunday, Manchester United suffered a 3‑0 defeat to Bournemouth, prompting a chorus of chants that singled out director of football Jason Wilcox. Fans sang his name alongside an obscenity, making clear who they blamed for the loss.

Fans single out Wilcox

The chant was led by a majority of United supporters and was repeated on more than one occasion. In the stands, Man Utd fans shouted Wilcox’s name in unison, coupling it with a profanity to underline their frustration.

Less than two weeks earlier, defender Lisandro Martinez launched a blistering attack on the club’s hierarchy, directing a pointed message at Wilcox. “I expect more from our technical director,” Martinez said, adding weight to the growing dissent.

Carrick's crisis deepens

Pressure is mounting on United boss Michael Carrick, who has endured eight games without a win – the club’s worst run since the 2015‑16 season – and has suffered two three‑goal defeats in a single week.

With the focus shifting to Wilcox, it is clear that the director of football is now a central figure in the supporters’ anger, despite not controlling the transfer budget.

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Wilcox's résumé and role

Wilcox, a former England winger who won the Premier League with Blackburn in 1994‑95, joined United in April 2024 after a 15‑month spell as technical director at Manchester City. At City he worked alongside chief executive Omar Berrada and later with Stephen Torpey, appointed United’s head of academy in August 2025.

United officials initially said Wilcox would work across all technical areas to achieve “highest standards of performance” and would answer to the sporting director. That changed in December when sporting director Dan Ashworth was dismissed amid a dispute over the successor to Erik ten Hag.

Wilcox does not set transfer budgets, which are decided at a higher level, and he was not responsible for the injury to Manuel Ugarte at the World Cup that ruined a summer sale plan. He also could not prevent Barcelona from pulling out of a £26 million deal for Marcus Rashford, both setbacks limiting United’s spending power.

Since arriving from Southampton, Wilcox has received public backing twice. The first came when Ruben Amorim was recruited as Ten Hag’s successor – Ashworth lost his job while Wilcox kept his. Thirteen months later, Amorim publicly accused interference around United’s formation, naming Wilcox, yet the Portuguese coach left and Wilcox remained.

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Recruitment decisions have drawn particular criticism. United focused on strengthening the midfield in the summer, neglecting competition for left‑back Luke Shaw and striking support for Benjamin Sesko, both of whom are now injured – a perceived major error. Wilcox was photographed with £70 million signing Carlos Baleba when the player arrived in August.

United sit 16th in the Premier League and have not won in their past eight matches, with many pointing to recruitment as a key factor and Wilcox as the convenient scapegoat. Since joining United, he has given only one extensive interview – to the in‑house Inside United podcast in October 2025 – and a brief speech at the 40th‑anniversary gala of the club’s past‑players association. After the Bournemouth defeat, Carrick was asked directly whether Wilcox and Omar Berrada should speak straight to supporters.