Manchester United have been granted a special exemption from a standard Premier League regulation to accommodate new interim manager Darren Fletcher's first press conference. The former Red Devils midfielder, 41, will address the media at 5pm on Tuesday, a significant departure from the league's usual guidelines.
Premier League Makes Exception for Fletcher's Debut
Under normal Premier League protocol, press conferences must start no later than 1:30pm the day before a match. For weekend fixtures, they are typically held on a Friday. However, following a request from the club, league officials have given United the green light to push Fletcher's inaugural briefing to a later slot. This was reported by The Manchester Evening News.
Fletcher was hastily installed as the club's temporary boss after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. His first task was to oversee first-team training on Monday, with reports suggesting the mood at the Carrington training complex was positive despite the recent upheaval.
Fletcher's Immediate Challenge and Future Ambitions
The Scot's immediate focus is preparing the team for Wednesday night's Premier League trip to face Scott Parker's Burnley at Turf Moor. He will be assisted by under-21s coach Travis Binnion. Fletcher is then expected to remain in the dugout for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
While the match against Burnley is unlikely to be the sole topic at Tuesday's press conference, the circumstances of Amorim's departure and Fletcher's own ambitions will undoubtedly be addressed. Fletcher has no prior experience as a first-team manager, but has long harboured ambitions to lead the club he represented as a player.
In a 2019 interview on the UTD Podcast, Fletcher laid out his ultimate goal: "When I take my first steps on the management ladder, the goal is to become Manchester United manager because that's the pinnacle for me. Nothing tops that, nothing's bigger."
What Comes Next for United?
The club's hierarchy is likely to appoint a caretaker manager to see out the remainder of the season, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly under consideration. Fletcher could remain part of the coaching staff, as he was during Solskjaer's tenure in 2021.
However, should results go his way in the coming fixtures, the United board may be tempted to extend his interim role, potentially including the high-profile Manchester derby later this month. The club plans to use the rest of the season to identify a permanent successor to Amorim.
Names linked with the permanent role include managers whose contracts expire in June 2026, such as Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), and Marco Silva (Fulham).
