Football
Exclusive: Blackburn Lead Race to Hand Former Man Utd Youngster Brandon Williams Football Lifeline
Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams is looking to resume his football career after being released by United following a suspended jail term for dangerous driving. Blackburn Rovers are among several Championship clubs interested in giving the 24-year-old a second chance. Williams, who previously showed potential in the Premier League with United and on loan at Norwich City, is eager to get back onto the pitch and prove himself.
Stoke City v Ipswich Town - Sky Bet Championship by James Gill - Danehouse | Getty Images
Blackburn Rovers are ready to give former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams a way back into football, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
But a number of other Championship clubs, including Bristol City, Norwich City, Preston North End, have held tentative talks with the player’s agent to potentially orchestrate a deal.
Williams, 24, famously broke into the United first team aged 19, but spectacularly saw his professional spiral out of control having been convicted of dangerous driving in May this year.
He was sentenced to a 14-month jail term, suspended for two years after crashing his car on the A34 bypass in Cheshire in August 2023.
United subsequently released him in 2024 but, having served community service as well for his fault in the accident, is now free to resume his career.
"It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play,” revealed Williams in a recent podcast.
"I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things."
"I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment."
SECOND TIER CHANCE
A move to a Championship club could prove to be the perfect way back into the game, especially as Williams looks to make his second chance count.
The former England Under-20 and Under-21 international seemingly had the world at his feet before his regrettable misdemeanour.
But the defender now hopes he will be given the opportunity to continue his career having shown glimpses of his potential previously in the Premier League.
Full-back Williams played 21 games in the top flight for United before his release, but also 26 games in the Premier League while on loan with the Canaries.
And then the defender played 15 times for Ipswich in the Championship prior to his conviction. He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League as second tier runners-up in the 2023-24 season.
He won the EFL Cup with United in 2023, was an FA Cup runner-up with the Old Trafford club in the same season and played in the squad which were Europa League finalists in the 2020-21 campaign.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.