Manchester United “still have confidence” in beleaguered manager Marc Skinner, according to the Daily Mail reporter Kathryn Batte.

The Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend leaves them 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea, leading many fans to question the manager’s future at the club.

Skinner guided United to a second-place finish in the WSL last season but things have been a lot more difficult for his team this time around.

They were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG before the group stage, and they were also controversially eliminated from the Conti Cup.

Skinner’s team are still in the FA Cup, having beaten Southampton earlier this month to reach the quarter-finals, but that appears to be their last chance to win a trophy this campaign.

What could lead to United parting ways with Skinner?

The Mail journalist Batte claims that the 40-year-old’s future “hinges” on two factors. 1) how high up the table the team finishes and 2) whether they win any silverware.

That suggests that Skinner will have to guide his United team to a strong finish in the WSL as well as potentially lifting the FA Cup.

Will INEOS’s arrival affect the club’s plans?

Skinner welcomed INEOS to the club following the defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, and he hinted that further investment in the squad from the minority shareholders could prove important in improving the fortunes of the women’s team:

“There’s a lot to be excited about at Manchester United. INEOS coming in will help, but it’s where we are today. It hurts, but it’s where we are.”

With Skinner’s contract expiring at the end of the season, INEOS will soon have to make a decision on whether they want to keep hold of their manager. All the signs suggest that a fresh start is a strong possibility.