‘Too much money too young’ – what happened to Brandon Williams?

“Too much money, too soon, and the inability to handle everything that comes”

The words of former Manchester United player Brandon Williams’ former coach Sean O’Shea, who is attempting to re-enter professional football, were read out in Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, and they best sum up the 24-year-old’s demise.

Williams was the kind of young man he encountered frequently, according to O’Shea.

Someone who had received “no guidance on thepitfalls of being a football player.”

In August of this year, Williams drove a grey Audi A3 along the A34 near Wilmslow in Cheshire at speeds of up to 99 mph, frightening other drivers with his erratic driving, dangerously overtaking one car before clipping another, and ultimately crashing his car into the central reservation.

Williams was given a 14-month prison term that would have been suspended for two years on Friday. Additionally, he is required to complete 180 hours of community service and be subject to a three-year driving ban.

Williams’ attorney was informed that he had been photographed with a balloon in his mouth. The 24-year-old’s defense lawyer claimed that the former United player had “previously used nitrous oxide” and that he was “not under the influence of a Class C drug” at the time of the incident but that a passenger was using the gas in the car.

Williams, who also played on loan at Norwich City and Ipswich Town, was signed by United in 2024 and is now free to resume his career.

Williams was given the option of waiting in a side room before the sentencing hearing because he managed to avoid the bustle of the court building’s four public courts on the first floor.

There were still cheers for Williams from a few United fans as he left the court building, despite it being almost 17 months since his last game for Ipswich in the Championship and more than three years since he last played for Norwich in the Premier League.

He has been described as “distant” by people who had worked with him throughout his career. He had a tough upbringing in Manchester but still had the “streetfighter” instinct, which was first praised by pundits like Gary Neville.

On the field of play, Williams has benefited from this attitude, but less so away from the field.

Former coaches have told BBC Sport that he was always “on the edge of something” despite no reports of him arriving late for training or acting particularly badly.

Williams made headlines for becoming the potenial successor to the United great Neville when he made the transition from the academy player to the first-team in 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, usurping England defender Luke Shaw.

He then made 51 appearances for the club and made 51 appearances in the Champions League.

According to the court, his career changed after the Covid pandemic started in March 2020.

Williams has acknowledged the challenge of attempting to participate in United training sessions on Zoom. He was amazed at the size and space that some of his team-mates had while they were still living with their parents.

Williams’ mental health was described to the court as a result of his self-isolement. According to sources close to him, moving away from his family also allegedly destroyed the support system that kept him grounded.

Williams described his time at Ipswich as “being starting to go crazy off the pitch, with friends and stuff like that,” in recent podcast interviews, including one with former goalkeeper Ben Foster.

He continued, “I ended up returning to Manchester and sorting things out.” Things just got worse.

“I enter this state where I simply don’t care.” I have a switch that dictates everything that happens. Although they knew I had fallen in love with them, they wanted me to return to football.

“It hurts for me to watch football right now because I only want to play.” I miss going to games, getting meals together, going on the coach, and just being in a team.

I want to experience the feeling of victory again and being in the changing room.

Williams accepted that his behavior on the night of the incident was “stupid,” for which he had no defense, and which he now regrets. This is partially reflected in this.

Richard Littler, who was defending Williams in court, expressed regret for the player.

Williams was also said to be willing to accept any punishment from the court, which might have included an 18-month jail term.

The probation officer’s description of him as a young man who was sincere about his understanding of the gravity of his actions was quoted in Littler’s report.

He claimed that his accusations were based on a lack of maturity, stupidity, and attempts to be ostentatious.

Williams admitted to the probation officer that he had “been driving like an idiot” and that he had insurance, but he didn’t.

Williams’ license at the time had eight endorsements, and he had previously been disqualified under the totting up process.

Judge Eric Lamb ruled in his decision that Williams admitted guilt but admitted showing “deliberate disregard” for the safety of others.

He was portrayed by a young man who was not particularly responsible or had a thorough understanding of the demands of his profession, according to several sources who spoke to BBC Sport.

However, the court was informed that Williams had been working out with O’Shea and two other fitness instructors in an effort to earn a new contract this summer.

According to Littler, “Brandon Williams has had to deal with significant mental health and neurological issues over the past few years.”