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SIR JIM RATCLIFFE is reportedly set to close the staff canteen at Old Trafford and replace the free lunches with FRUIT.

The billionaire United shareholder is making controversial cuts to try and reduce the club’s spending.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making controversial changes at Man Utd[/caption]

And in Ratcliffe’s latest move, he is poised to shut down United’s Old Trafford staff canteen, according to The Guardian.

The canteen regularly opens from 11.30am to 1.30pm and staff are allowed free hot meals and tea and coffee.

But instead, fruit will now be on offer for those working at the stadium – while casual matchday employees will continue to receive a packed lunch.

SunSport revealed how similar measures have been taken at United’s Carrington training base.

Lunch options in the Carrington canteen has been reduced to just soup and sandwiches for everybody except first-team players.

It comes after over 250 staff members were axed, with many more set to follow in the coming weeks and months.

Ratcliffe also cancelled the club’s annual Christmas party, raised ticket prices and cut funding for a charity helping former players.

Furthermore, United U18s were denied the chance to play at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup fifth round.

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Usually, the match would have been staged at the Theatre of Dreams.

But instead it was played at the 12,000-capacity Leigh Sports Village, saving the club a total of £8,000.

United currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, only above West Ham on goal difference.

Ruben Amorim recently admitted that he is managing the “worst team in the history of Manchester United.”

The Red Devils salvaged a point at Goodison Park at the weekend after going 2-0 down against Everton.

Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte struck in the second half to draw United level.

After the match, head coach Amorim admitted he does not know how to fix the club’s current crisis.

He said: “I don’t know what I need to do to bring more consistency. If I knew, I would change it.

“We have to continue to think in the next game, everything we do in the week we have to use it in the game.

“If we do that, we are near to winning games like we did in the second half. In this moment we need to focus on day by day.

“We need to survive this season, and then to think ahead. We have so many problems.

“Then when we go to the game and let the time pass, it’s really hard. I don’t want to just say the negative part, the second half was so much better in the belief. In the end we were near to winning this game.”

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Ruben Amorim says he has the ‘worst team in the history of Manchester United’[/caption]

SHAUN MURPHY hit the most “underwhelming” 147 break of his life – following the most overwhelming travel chaos experience.

The Magician celebrated a maximum break in the final frame of his 5-0 victory over China’s Zhou Jinhao in the first round of the World Open.

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Shaun Murphy hit the ‘most underwhelming’ 147 break of all time[/caption]

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It was the tenth max break of his career and said he was ‘delighted’ by it[/caption]

It is the tenth perfect break of his career and only Ronnie O’Sullivan (15), John Higgins (13) and Stephen Hendry (11) have made more.

Yet the 214th official maximum in snooker history – and 12th of the season – was not seen by many people in Yushan.

Murphy, in line for the £5,000 high-break prize, said: “I did a show in Ormskirk a couple of weeks ago.

“When I got there, the promoter was keen to tell me that the last player they’d had there made a 147 in the first frame.

“So, I did one there as well! Listen, I don’t know, maybe there’s something in the water but I’m delighted. Absolutely delighted.

“I must say it was an early session, an early start, there weren’t many fans in the arena this morning.

“It’s probably the most underwhelming 147 of all time. But they are all special.

“I’ve made snooker look very difficult at times – when it goes well, I’m really pleased.

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“You just get used to patterns. It was very, very similar to the 147 I made in the Shoot Out, where the blue moved off the break.

“I just thought that the black was available and ‘let’s see how far I can get’. So, I was trying to get it from the first shot. I didn’t think I would actually do it. I can’t believe it. I’m blown away.”

Murphy – who fired in a 147 on his run to winning the Masters at Ally Pally in January – also notched in scores of 127 and 119 as Jinhao potted only 53 points across five frames.

His next assignment will be Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the Last 32 as he chases the £175,000 top pot.

But the world No.8 almost never made it on time after flight problems en route to the Far East.

Murphy explained: “It was amazing. We taxied to the runway at Heathrow. The pilot came over and said: ‘I’m really sorry, we have got a problem, no power in the engines.’

“We were like: ‘Right, that sounds like a problem.’ Of course, there was a three-hour delay. By the time I got to Dubai I’d missed my connection to Shanghai.

“That meant a night in Shanghai. I then got an early bullet train.

“What should have taken a day took four days to get here. A bit of a mission. Seems like it has been worthwhile so far.”

Believe it or not, New York Giants legend Eli Manning has some embarrassing photos from his childhood when he participated in Mardi Gras. The former quarterback of Big Blue shared one on social media. He took to X, formerly Twitter, to share the picture. A young Manning is wearing a tall feathered hat and a […]

The post Eli Manning shares embarrassing childhood photo appeared first on ClutchPoints.

BROOKE Vincent has confirmed her return to Coronation Street after six years away.

The actress, 32, played the role of Sophie Webster on the cobbles between 2004 and 2019.

Splash News

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Her exit from the street came off the back of giving birth to her first child Mexx S J Bryan.

Brooke has since had another son, Monroe S J Bryan, with her partner Kean Bryan.

But as her young family grow, Brooke has revealed she’s ready to return to Coronation Street.

Asked by Charlotte Dawson if she’d like to head back, she said: “I think I would, I think now the kids are a little bit older and they’re going to start school.

“I’d love to go back.”

Her on-screen dad Kevin Webster – played by Michael Le Vell – has recently had a health scare.

The mechanic will be diagnosed with testicular cancer in devastating scenes set to air.

Meanwhile, during the same appearance on the Naughty Corner podcast, Brooke revealed she ‘cries everyday’.

Chatting to Charlotte she said: “It’s just hard.

“I think when you have a baby and you just think that they’re just gonna be a baby.

“They’ve got their own personalities and their own wants, and needs, and likes.”

ALL hail Apple’s latest smartphone! The iPhone 16e is now available to pre-order.

Apple’s first budget-friendly phone is packed with AI-powered features – read on to find out where it’s available to buy.

This February sees the launch of a brand-new iPhone, just as three popular models have been discontinued.

The iPhone 16e was made available to pre-order on Friday (21st February).

It will then go on general sale at the end of the week (Friday 28th February).

It seems to be positioned by Apple as a follow-up to its budget-friendly iPhone SE series, the last of which was released in 2022.

The all-new 16e comes with many of the features of the rest of the iPhone 16 range.

You can create your own emoji, edit people out of your selfies (goodbye, photobombers), and even get your notifications summarised so you don’t waste time scrolling through everything.

Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e, including the price and where to pre-order.

Apple iPhone 16e price

The iPhone 16e starts at £599 for the base model, which comes with 128GB of storage.

If you need more space, you’ll need to spend £699 for the 256GB version and £899 for the 512GB model.

The 16e is priced within what feels more like mid-range territory, compared to the 2022 iPhone SE, which cost £419 when it launched.

But compared to the iPhone 16, which starts at £799 for the same 128GB storage, it’s a much cheaper – if not outright cheap – device.

Apple iPhone 16e – where to pre-order

The iPhone 16e is available to buy SIM-free basis, which is ideal if you’ve already got a SIM contract.

But if you’d rather spread the cost, you can also pick it up on a pay-monthly deal from pretty much all major UK providers.

SIM-Free

• Amazon, from £599 – buy here
• Apple, from £599 – buy here

Pay-Monthly

• Mobiles.co.uk, from £25.99 per month – buy here
• Carphone Warehouse, from £25.99 per month – buy here
• Vodafone, from £41.80 per month – buy here
• EE, from £25.83 per month – buy here
• Three – buy here
• Tesco Mobile, from £30.49 per month – buy here
• Mobiles Phones Direct, from £28 per month – buy here
• Uswitch, from £24 per month – buy here

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: What’s the difference?

The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 may look similar, but there are key differences to consider.

The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP main camera with 1x and 2x optical zoom, while the iPhone 16 adds a 12MP ultra-wide lens for more versatile shots.

The iPhone 16 also packs advanced features like macro photography and Cinematic mode for 4K Dolby Vision, which the 16e lacks.

On the front, the iPhone 16 includes Apple’s Dynamic Island for an interactive display experience, while the 16e sticks to the older notch design.

Both phones feature OLED screens, but the iPhone 16 is brighter, with up to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness compared to the 16e’s 1,200 nits.

MagSafe compatibility is another big difference.

The iPhone 16 supports MagSafe accessories and faster wireless charging, but the 16e only offers basic Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W.

Both devices share the A18 chip, but the 16e has a slightly less powerful four-core GPU.

But the 16e pulls ahead in battery life, offering up to 26 hours of video playback versus the iPhone 16’s 22 hours.

The 16e is a solid budget choice, but the iPhone 16 offers more for photography and accessory fans.

Head to The Sun’s shopping tech page for more tech deals, discounts and new releases.

MANCHESTER UNITED coaches are reportedly growing frustrated with £72million flop striker Rasmus Hojlund.

The forward – signed from Atalanta in 2023 – has managed just TWO Premier League goals in 21 games this season with zero assists.

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Man Utd coaches are reportedly growing frustrated with Rasmus Hojlund[/caption]

Meanwhile right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who United sold for just £15m to West Ham – has two goals and two assists to his name.

Hojlund is without a goal in 16 games and according to the Manchester Evening News, coaches are beginning to show frustration.

One in particular was said to be fuming with the Dane’s performance in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham earlier in February.

With United 2-0 down at Everton last weekend – Hojlund was taken off for 17-year-old Chido Obi who made only his second senior appearance.

There was a loud cheer from the away end when Hojlund was taken with 20 minutes to go.

And United scored twice within ten minutes of Hojlund’s substitution to salvage a point at Goodison Park.

United manager Ruben Amorim hooked Hojlund after he lost an aerial battle in the 3-1 comeback win against Southampton.

But in January, Amorim refused to point the blame on Hojlund, instead suggesting it was a collective problem.

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He said: “I think it’s a team problem. You can see it. It’s not just from now, it’s from the past. So we have clearly a lack of goals and a lack of threat.

“When you threaten the opponents, the opponents maybe don’t press you so high. So everything is connected.

“All the players have moments in this season. I think when we started this journey together, Rasmus was the player that was always scoring.

“So he can come back in the next game, we will see.”

Hojlund – signed by ex-boss Erik ten Hag – scored 16 goals in his first season at Old Trafford.

But he has only seven in all competitions this term – five in the Europa League.

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Ruben Amorim with Hojlund[/caption]

Argos has launched an enormous site sale across a huge range of different product types.

The store’s Big Red Event sale sees discounts run as high as 50% – but you’ll need to hurry: this ends very soon.

Argos Big Red Event sale

The Argos sale is a prime opportunity for shoppers to get ahead on their spring cleaning, with amazing discounts on vacuums and other household essentials.

But it’s not just about preparing for the warmer months – with the current chilly weather, there are plenty of winter must-haves on offer too, including cosy foot warmers and kettles to keep you toasty.

From electronics and furniture to toys, gaming accessories, and health and beauty products, Argos has it covered with deals and sales this February.

JUMP TO: Deals under £20 in the Argos sale

Just keep in mind that the sale doesn’t run for long – it wraps up tomorrow (Tuesday 25th February).

Shoppers hunting for homeware shouldn’t miss the big Dunelm winter clearance sale either.

We’ve picked out our favourite deals from Big Red Event sale below.

Argos Big Red Event deals

Dyson V8 Absolute Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, £285.60 (was £400)

The Dyson V8 is a vac whose de-tangling technology makes it a wise choice for pet owners, suffering from hair and furs across their floors and furnishings.

Its cordless design gives it will deliver 40 minutes of suction before it needs re-charging, and it works across carpets, hard floors and, yes, upholstery.

The Fluffy cleaner head is gentle on delicate surfaces while effectively removing dust and debris.

Weighing just 2.56kg, this lightweight vacuum also comes with a wall-mounted docking station – particularly great if you’re short on storage.

Beurer Foot Warmer Taupe, £39.99 (was £49.99)

The winter isn’t quite over yet, folks – here’s a nice 20% discount on a handy-looking essential for those chilly evenings.

The Beurer foot warmer has a soft-looking fleecy surface and three adjustable heat settings.

The brand also helps say it will help with easing aches and improving circulation.

The lining is removable and washable, and it automatically shuts off after 90 minutes – perfect if you have a habit of nodding off in front of the TV.

Karcher WV 6 Plus Handheld Window Vacuum Cleaner, £76 (was £95)

Spring cleaning season is almost here, and if you’re tired of peering those stains and streaks across the windows, now’s the time to pick up this window vac from heavyweight Karcher.

The brand advertises this with 100-minute battery life, which will let you clean up to 300m² off a single charge – which you can track on the LED display.

Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer, £216 (was £260)

The Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer was launched in the UK last year – a response to shoppers complaints that the original side-by-side drawer design took up too much space in their kitchens.

With six cooking functions, including air fry, roast, and bake, it delivers crispy, evenly cooked results in record time.

Better still, those two drawers can be programmed individually, meaning you can cook different ingredients on different temperatures and timings.

You’ll find Ninja listed in our pick of the best air fryers, where it’s definitely comparing against other options if you’re on a limited budget.

Amazon Echo Pop Smart Speaker with Alexa, £35.99 (was £44.99)

It’s not just Amazon where you’ll find discounts on the retailer’s Echo speakers (and to be fair, there’s a massive device sale on the Amazon website right now).

Argos has reduced the cost of this cute little follow-up to the Echo Dot by 30% in the Big Red Event sale.

The full sound makes it perfect for bedrooms or offices, while Bluetooth compatibility allows seamless streaming from your smartphone.

And, of course, you can link it up with other devices around your house – find out more in our what are smart homes explainer.

At just £35.99, it’s a fantastic addition to your smart home setup.

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Argos Big Red Event: Deals under £20

It’s not all about pricy appliances and homeware in the Argos – you’ll find some great deals on cheaper items too.

• Argos Home Single Clothes Rail, £8.40 (was £12) – shop here
• Lego Lion King Simba Toy, £16.20 (was £18) – shop here
• Lego Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Set, £16.20 (was £18) – shop here
• Cookworks Basic Black Kettle, £8.80 (was £11) – shop here
• Cookworks 2-Slice Toaster, £14.40 (was £18) – shop here
• Lego Marvel War Machine Toy Set, £9.36 (was £10.40) – shop here
• Philips Eyebrow/Nose Trimmer, £11.70 (was £13) – shop here
• Phil Smith Salon Hair Dryer, £15.20 (was £19) – shop here
• Barbie Campervan Bumper Craft Set, £10.50 (£15) – shop here

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Polly Pocket Pollyville Pet Adventure Treehouse Playset, £20 (was £40)

Argos has reduced a storming 50% off this five-floor Polly Pocket house.

Complete with micro dolls, animal figures, and accessories, this playset features expandable elements like a zipline and waterfall slide.

It’s marketed as suitable for 4-year-olds and above.

LG 43-inch LQ60006LA Smart TV, £160 (was £199.99)

We always appreciate seeing TVs of this size for less than £200 – especially when it’s from LG, one of the biggest manufacturers on the UK market.

It’s not a 4K TV, but Ultra High Definition isn’t important in a television of this modest size.

The webOS platform provides easy access to popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Freeview Play – it’s completely set up for live TV, streaming and gaming.

A superb choice for smaller spaces, such as bedrooms or even kitchen countertops.

If you’re not sure if it’s the right size for your space, read our what size TV to buy guide.

Russell Hobbs Worcester Kettle, £34.40 (was £43)

This sleek stainless-steel kettle comes from homeware mainstay Russell Hobbs, and is now 30% cheaper in the Argos February sale.

It’s got that slick, yet pleasingly timeless look that’s so typical of the brand, alongside a 1.7-litre capacity and illuminated water window.

Melitta Barista T Smart Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine, £412.50 (was £825)

Caffeine lovers, rejoice: this higher-end Melitta coffee machine is now reduced to half-price on Amazon.

The original £825 price tag is probably way too high for shoppers, even a machine that can be connected to a smartphone app.

On top of that, the Barista T Smart has two different chambers, for mild and strong blends of coffee, and automatically cleans and descales.

Acer V15 Gaming Laptop Bundle, £579 (was £679)

Gamers will appreciate this reduced bundle, which includes a gaming laptop and controller.

The Acer Nitro V15 is equipped with an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU.

The display’s 144Hz refresh rate means it will deliver those smooth, blur-free visuals that is pretty much expected from gamers these days.

Factor in that wireless controller and the extra 10% discount, and this is a pretty hot gaming deal.

Head to The Sun’s shopping section for more of the latest discounts we’ve spotted.

ASTON VILLA fans have jokingly called for the club to sign Manchester United’s goalkeeping coach in light of Marcus Rashford’s displays.

Rashford, 27, has impressed the Villa Park faithful since joining Unai Emery‘s side on loan from Manchester United.

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Marcus Rashford has shown glimpses of his old self during his brief stint with Aston Villa[/caption]

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Rashford’s impressive displays have come a month after Ruben Amorim claimed he’d rather play his goalkeeping coach instead of the striker[/caption]

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Villa fans have jokingly called for club transfer guru Monchi to sign United’s keeper coach Jorge Vital[/caption]

The England international has yet to find the back of the net but has shown glimpses of his old self in his four appearances, in which he’s racked up two assists.

Rashford’s form comes a month after Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim publicly blasted him by stating he’d rather start his goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital.

The Portuguese put Rashford on blast by saying: “I’d put Vital on the bench before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day. I’ll not change in that department.

“It’s always the same reason. The reason is the training.

“The way that I see what a footballer should do in training, in life, every day. If things don’t change, I will not change.

“Same situation for every player — if you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player.

“You can see it today on the bench. We needed pace to change the game, to move some pieces — but I prefer it like that.”

Villa fans haven’t forgotten Amorn’s comments and have called for transfer guru Monchi to sign Vital following Rashford’s recent good showings.

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One wrote on X: “If Rashford is this good I fully expect Monchi to be putting in a bid for the UTD goalkeeping coach as well!

Another said: “Given our finances with salary as a ratio of revenue we couldn’t match his man united wages.

“Would Rashford accept a cut is question… would that 63 yr old goalie coach also come?”

And another said: “He might be unplayable I guess.”

Villa have the option to permanently acquire Rashford’s services in the summer for a mere £40million.

Emery was full of praise for the striker after Villa’s 2-1 win over Chelsea last weekend, saying: “Of course, he played a fantastic 45 minutes.

“And really this is the only thing. We want to try to be consistent through him, in our squad and in our way we are going to do [that].

“But he’s going to be hopefully very, very important like today. But hopefully more and more and more.

“And the most important for him is try to feel comfortable here. Try to get confidence. Be here in [a] good atmosphere with us and this is my objective.”

Villa will be back in action on Tuesday night, travelling to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.

CRYSTAL Rudd became a secret binge eater aged eight with her parents having to put alarms on kitchen cupboards.

The now 30-year-old used unhealthy food as a comfort after her parents’ divorce – and it became an “addiction”.

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Crystal Rudd before and after losing 11 stone[/caption]

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The Lincolnshire lass struggled with her weight from an early age[/caption]

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The mum-of-three admits was ‘addicted’ to food[/caption]

“I’d hide the crisp packets and chocolate wrappers down the side of the sofa,” the now mum-of-three from Fleet, Lincolnshire. recalled.

Aged nine, Crystal needed adult-sized chairs in class when all her peers sat on child-sized.

She was also forced to wear secondary school-sized uniforms in primary school, as age-appropriate clothes wouldn’t fit.

“It was an addiction”, the mum said, “and I became a massive kid”

As a teen Crystal was bullied for her weight and once again reached for junk food as a comfort.

When her mum discovered her stash of hundreds of packets, she even put an alarm on the pantry.

But determined Crystal still found a way to sneak past it by climbing on a chair.

“The addiction was bad and because I was limited on what I could eat, I craved it more,” she said.

Cruel classmates picked on her for her larger frame as a teen, and eventually she took her food to eat in the toilets or behind the stairs.

Even when Crystal lost some weight aged 16 for her school prom, she regained it all shortly after.

“As I got older, I went through stages where I lost weight by dieting and exercise, but I gained it back again,” she said.

She fell pregnant at 19 with her son, Ethan, 10, and then had two more little ones in the following years – Blaze, eight, and Poppy, seven.

With each child she gained more weight, but her weight rose most after a brief split from her then-boyfriend Stephen, in late 2018.

“I was heartbroken,” she said. ” I’d feed the children healthy foods, then order takeaways for me.

“I’d have huge portions – like chicken wraps and chips with onion rings – from the takeaway every day for nearly two months before we got back together again.”

At her largest, Crystal was almost 23 stone – which she stayed at for a “long time.”

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Crystal had a gastric sleeve operation, to help her shed the pounds[/caption]

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Crystal Rudd before and after her weight loss operation[/caption]

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Crystal has since adopted a healthier diet, smaller portions and strict exercise regime[/caption]

Over the following years her weight fluctuated.

She lost some before eventually tying the knot with Stephen in August 2021, but then regaining it due to on-and-off health issues in the months that followed.

She began researching bariatric surgery options and eventually booked a £2,700 gastric sleeve surgery in Istanbul for January 2023.

The common weight-loss procedure that works by reducing the size of your stomach so you can’t eat as much food and gain weight.

It involves removing up 80 per cent of the stomach, leaving a narrow tube-shaped “sleeve”.

I’d now tell younger Crystal ‘not everything is storms and clouds and you will get your happy ending’

Crystal Rudd30

The mum adopted a healthier diet, smaller portions and strict exercise regime after.

“I was on a liquid diet,” she said. “Then pureed, then eventually I could eat soft foods.

“I still had a romantic Valentine’s Day steak dinner – I just pureed my steak and chips!

“I was doing combat classes, body balance and aqua fit too – and the weight came off.”

Crystal managed to maintain weight loss despite sustaining a knee injury, getting a severe infection from a spider bite, and losing her beloved nan throughout 2023.

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Crystal and her husband Stephen Rudd[/caption]

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Crystal with her family[/caption]

She hit a milestone of losing 10 stone in January this year – which was when she jetted back to the Turkish clinic to have 11lbs of excess skin removed, as well as liposuction.

The £5,800 procedure took eight hours and left her “looking like Frankenstein’s monster” due to the stitches in the healing stages.

But she loves her new frame, even if it’s taking some time for her to get used to as a result of body dysmorphia, after being much larger for her entire life.

To show off her achievements she entered a pageant for bariatric patients – and will appear in the Miss Bariatric Lincolnshire final in September.

She said: “Now I can show my kids they can achieve wonderful things, and they see their mum thriving.

“I’d now tell younger Crystal ‘not everything is storms and clouds and you will get your happy ending'”.

ERIK TEN HAG has given a major career update after being sacked by Manchester United.

The Dutchman was relieved of his duties at Old Trafford at the end of October after winning just three of their nine Premier League games under him and sitting 14th in the table.

TikTok / SEGStories

Erik ten Hag has revealed when he plans to get back into management[/caption]

TikTok / SEGStories

Speaking on SEG Stories he spoke about what he ‘misses’ about Man Utd[/caption]

Things have not improved at his old club under successor Ruben Amorim with the club now in 15th and having lost 12 from 26 games in the league – a run not seen since the club was last relegated.

Quarterly accounts revealed it cost stint Man Utd £14.5million to sack Ten Hag, his staff and former sporting director Dan Ashworth.

However, the 55-year-old has now reflected on his time at the helm of the Red Devils, admitting there is one thing he misses more than any other.

Speaking to SEG Stories, he said: “If there is one thing I miss, it’s Old Trafford.

“You’re always working towards a dot on the horizon but you never get to the horizon.

“We’ve had many highs at Manchester United, but as I always say there is always room for improvement. And good is not enough, you can do better.”

Ten Hag always thought highly of the Man Utd faithful, pending an emotional thank you letter to them after his sacking in which he said: “Dear fans, let me start by thanking you.

“Thank you for always being there for the club. Whether it was a game far away or a tough match at Old Trafford, your support has been unshakeable.

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“The atmosphere at Old Trafford has always been electrifying, thanks to you. I felt it many times.

“Also in away games, it gave the team and me an incredible feeling to hear the United chants taking over the opponents’ stadiums, whether the game was in England, Europe or during the summer tours…

“I want to thank you for giving me this feeling and for your support. I also want to thank the staff in every department of the club for their unwavering support in good times and bad.

“I wish all Manchester United fans nothing but success, trophies and glory. Your support and the warmth I received from everyone at the club helped me feel at home. Thank you for this chapter in my life.”

During Ten Hag’s time in England, he won the League Cup and FA Cup.

But he also oversaw Man Utd’s worst-ever Premier League finish in his second season before kicking off another record-breaking campaign in all the wrong ways.

Ten Hag has been linked with a variety of managerial jobs, including Borussia Dortmund, after his two-and-a-half-year spell in Manchester came to an end.

He said: “I had already decided for myself, ‘Okay, I’m not doing anything until the 1st of July.”

As well as the general pressures of the Man Utd job, Ten Hag was forced to deal with player mutinies from Cristiano Ronaldo and later Jadon Sancho.

Meanwhile, a bust-up he had with Raphael Varane also came to light last week.

The centre-back revealed the pair had a heated argument in November 2023 when discussing the team’s form and set-up, which left Varane frozen out of the team for two months.

The Frenchman told The Athletic: “It’s hard to find the right words, it was very tense at times.

“Sometimes he made an effort to listen to the players’ feedback. Sometimes he made decisions without listening.

“So there were ups and downs. It was complicated at times. He always needed an example of a player who was alone the entire time he was at Manchester.

“He did that with at least one important player on the team. He was always in conflict with certain leaders of the group, that is his way of managing.

“We had a robust discussion. We told each other some truths but then I didn’t play again for almost two months.

“I said I didn’t agree with certain ways of doing things regarding the relationship between him and the team.

“It wasn’t something that I thought was good for the team because some players weren’t satisfied.

“It was not good in terms of the relationship with the coach. He said, ‘OK I heard what you said’, and after that I didn’t play.

“I also have to recognise what was good. He gave me the peace of mind to come back from my injury to play in the FA Cup final.

“He was counting on me, that was very positive, it allowed me to play my role in the team.”

Varane also added he was “surprised” Ten Hag was kept on following the FA Cup final – one of many poor decisions from Ineos in their first 12 months in charge of United – as the “connection with the group no longer existed”.