Ed Woodward could delay Man Utd exit to help manager search
By Tom Gott
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward could delay his departure to help the club search for a new manager.
Woodward announced his decision to resign back in April in the aftermath of the Super League debacle, with his initial plan to walk away at the end of 2021.
That has been the assumption ever since, but things are obviously a little tricky at Old Trafford these days.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as manager on Sunday - a decision which was made with Woodward's input - and the search is now on for a replacement. The club are planning to find an interim boss until the end of the season, but 90min understands they are open to hiring a permanent manager immediately if the right one can be found.
At any other time of the year, Woodward would be influential in finding a new boss, and according to Sky Sports News, he may well delay his departure from the club to help steer United through the interview process.
The significant instability at United would obviously be worsened by Woodward's departure, with a permanent successor not yet confirmed by the club, and the feeling is that the executive vice-chairman may keep his role until things have calmed down.
Whoever comes in to replace Solskjaer, be it temporarily or permanently, will be expected to work with United's current network of staff, with a major rejig of the off-pitch side of things planned for the end of the season.
As far as the manager search goes, 90min understands they are looking at Leicester's Brendan Rodgers and PSG's Mauricio Pochettino, both of whom would be interested in taking the job right away.
United are believed to favour Rodgers, but there is plenty of support for Pochettino and those in charge at Old Trafford want to take enough time to make an informed decision.