I'll say it again, the person that will lose power is the current manager not the CEO. That narrative is stupid, has always been stupid and always will be stupid.
I think the same, I don't know a single DoF that operates like he was the owner of the club without reporting to anyone. The Glazers or Woody having a final word doesn't mean that they're going to contradict and ignore what the DoF is suggesting to do. Mainly because they're signing someone for that job because they have no clue, and need a clear reference to bring knowledge and leadership to organize the football side of things.
If VdS was not convinced for any reason it could be something like the structure being complex, something that Phelan complained about last season according to the media. But I don't think Woodward or the Glazers would have the balls to talk with Van der Sar, a respected figure at United and after doing an excelent job at Ajax just to tell him "stay down there with some ex players and think about potential transfers, but you will not decide much".
I mean, not even Woody and the Glazers are so dumb to think VdS would accept to be a plastic toy, and it would be an insult for the man. If they are trying to sign him we must be serious about it, and I believe it's inevitable at this point considering that after 6 years, three managers and X millions we're in a worse state than we were at the start, so there's no margin anymore to keep failing and taking the wrong decisions.
This time I think the club will get serious about this even if they do it with resignation, my main problem is the snail speed we have to do everything as a club. At this point this should have been done already and I still don't see the light at the end of the tunnel.