Manchester United have announced Steve McNally is to step down as the club's doctor after 16 years of service to take up a new role at the PGMOL, the body responsible for match officials in English professional football.
The club have confirmed that McNally will leave his position as Head of Football Medicine & Science at the end of January to become Performance Support Director for PGMOL, officially known as the Professional Game Match Officials Board.
McNally joined United in 2006 and worked with Sir Alex Ferguson for seven seasons, during which the club won the Champions League, the Club World Cup and five Premier League titles, and he was retained following Ferguson's retirement.
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McNally has worked with five further permanent managers, including Erik ten Hag, and football director John Murtough has lauded his contribution to the club in a statement ahead of his scheduled January departure.
Murtough said: “Steve’s contribution over the past 16 years has been immense and I’d like to thank him, on behalf of everyone at Manchester United, for everything he has done on and off the pitch for our players, colleagues and the wider club.
“Steve was recently presented with the Fabrice Muamba Award for Outstanding Service to Football Medicine & Performance at the North-West Football Awards, which shows how highly he is regarded across the football community.”
McNally admitted it was a 'very difficult decision' to leave the club for the PGMOL but that he felt it was an appropriate time.
He added: “Leaving Manchester United after 16 years was a very difficult decision but I feel the time is right to step away from frontline provision at club level and utilise my experience in a new strategic role that will allow me to contribute to another vital aspect of the game.
“Alongside the directors, managers, players, coaches and colleagues from all departments past and present, I am proud to have been a small part of Manchester United’s recent history and thank them all wholeheartedly for their friendship, camaraderie and support.
“I will miss the United family but until I take up my new post, I remain fully focused on helping all our teams build on the first half of this season, in particular Erik and his staff in preparation for the resumption after the World Cup.”
McNally will be replaced on an interim basis by Dr Jim Moxon while the club searches for a permanent successor. Jim has a strong background in sports medicine, working most recently as club doctor for Liverpool FC.
Moxon has started working with McNally this week to ensure a smooth transition.
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