The problems at Manchester United right now can to a large extent stem from having key players in the organisation from the board room to the pitch who are either trainees when it comes to their positions or are not football people or both, issues that are continuing to dog the set-up.
In fact from top to bottom in the past ten years we have key people (outside of playing staff) who are essentially learning on the job.
As we know our owners, the Glazers are not football men and women and there are six in the boardroom. Co-chairman Avram Glazer' and directors Joel Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, and Bryan Glazer are all key boardroom figures in the US NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Director Kevin Glazer is head of the family US-based real estate firm.
They have no experience of running a football club.
And that is permeating throughout Old Trafford.
Their long-time right hand man at the club Ed Woodward is an accountant and investment banker with commercial nous who became executive vice-chairman and effectively the chief executive who despite little football-side experience has been for years in charge of dealing with agents and managers at the club. We know this.
Now as Mr Woodward departs, Richard Arnold - another accountant who was promoted to group managing director and director of Manchester United PLC on 1 July 2013, assuming control of the club's business operations - will be taking his place. He too has not much football-side experience in dealing with agents or making decisions over managers and is steeped in the commercial side.
On the pitch, Ole's experience at the very top level in the Prem was also zero before he was brought in as interim manager and getting it full time. The only Prem club he managed got relegated. We know this.
You have ex United star Darren Fletcher who has come from nowhere to become the technical director at the club. With what qualifications? He was under-16s coach last year.
There is Kieran McKenna, who was a youth coach, then suddenly becomes the first team coach.
Then there is Michael Carrick who came from nowhere to become a first team coach.
And there's Matt Judge who has been negotiating the transfers and contracts having been head of corporate development, since 2016. He had a 13-year career in investment banking before joining Man Utd. Again, steeped in commercial.
John Murtough, the first ever football director who is responsible for overseeing operations and strategy across all football functions is the man with the most obvious experience to to his key position.
Prior to that he was head of elite performance at the Premier League, following senior academy and player development roles at other clubs.
So if you are wondering why Van De Bench came to the club only for Ole to keep him as a sub, if you wonder why Ole was given a new three years contract in the summer, if you wonder why Paul Pogba is set to leave for a second time on a free after we paid £90m for him, if you wonder why Eric Bailly is given a three year contract in April while remaining sidelined, if you wonder why Jesse Lingard remains benched despite nine goals in 13 games for David Moyes' West Ham side, if you wonder why under Ole two years ago Phil Jones was given a contract to 2023 and an option for another year, if you wonder why Nemanja Matic at the age of 31 was given a three year contract last year.....
In fact from top to bottom in the past ten years we have key people (outside of playing staff) who are essentially learning on the job.
As we know our owners, the Glazers are not football men and women and there are six in the boardroom. Co-chairman Avram Glazer' and directors Joel Glazer, Edward Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, and Bryan Glazer are all key boardroom figures in the US NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Director Kevin Glazer is head of the family US-based real estate firm.
They have no experience of running a football club.
And that is permeating throughout Old Trafford.
Their long-time right hand man at the club Ed Woodward is an accountant and investment banker with commercial nous who became executive vice-chairman and effectively the chief executive who despite little football-side experience has been for years in charge of dealing with agents and managers at the club. We know this.
Now as Mr Woodward departs, Richard Arnold - another accountant who was promoted to group managing director and director of Manchester United PLC on 1 July 2013, assuming control of the club's business operations - will be taking his place. He too has not much football-side experience in dealing with agents or making decisions over managers and is steeped in the commercial side.
On the pitch, Ole's experience at the very top level in the Prem was also zero before he was brought in as interim manager and getting it full time. The only Prem club he managed got relegated. We know this.
You have ex United star Darren Fletcher who has come from nowhere to become the technical director at the club. With what qualifications? He was under-16s coach last year.
There is Kieran McKenna, who was a youth coach, then suddenly becomes the first team coach.
Then there is Michael Carrick who came from nowhere to become a first team coach.
And there's Matt Judge who has been negotiating the transfers and contracts having been head of corporate development, since 2016. He had a 13-year career in investment banking before joining Man Utd. Again, steeped in commercial.
John Murtough, the first ever football director who is responsible for overseeing operations and strategy across all football functions is the man with the most obvious experience to to his key position.
Prior to that he was head of elite performance at the Premier League, following senior academy and player development roles at other clubs.
So if you are wondering why Van De Bench came to the club only for Ole to keep him as a sub, if you wonder why Ole was given a new three years contract in the summer, if you wonder why Paul Pogba is set to leave for a second time on a free after we paid £90m for him, if you wonder why Eric Bailly is given a three year contract in April while remaining sidelined, if you wonder why Jesse Lingard remains benched despite nine goals in 13 games for David Moyes' West Ham side, if you wonder why under Ole two years ago Phil Jones was given a contract to 2023 and an option for another year, if you wonder why Nemanja Matic at the age of 31 was given a three year contract last year.....