Managerial changes at Premier League football clubs can often be ugly affairs with controversial sackings and unpopular appointments a common occurrence in the modern game.
However, Manchester United Group Managing Director Richard Arnold believes his club handled this summer’s transition of power extraordinarily well.
After 26 years in charge at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement was always going to be a difficult obstacle for the club to overcome.
As well as the iconic manager’s departure United also lost their chief executive David Gill.
“To go through the succession we have been through represents a big change,” Arnold told Press Association Sport.
“The way the transition was achieved characterises how well the club has been run by David and Sir Alex.”
Arnold revealed that the decision was made to defer to Sir Alex’s spectacular footballing judgement when it came time to appoint a successor.
“The man widely accredited as having the best judgement in football had a long period of time to think about the inheritance he was passing on,” he said.
“He wanted to make sure the squad was in the right shape and the timing was done from a position of strength. That is exactly where the club is.
“When you look at the preparation that went into that and the position Sir Alex put himself in to make that transition, as an example of how to prepare, even down to how we managed the communication around it, it was an exemplary job.”
While the managerial change is the most visible example of change at the club David Gill’s departure also represents the transition into the unknown.
However, Arnold believes the groundwork has been laid for a sustainable transition in a new era at Old Trafford.
“David (Gill) has been preparing both myself and Ed in quite some detail about the way it all works,” said Arnold.
“Ed [Woodward] has been particularly well briefed about the operations of how we transact with players, both the fantastic ones we already have and if there is an opportunity to buy.”
While United’s lack of transfer activity may indicate a problem at the club Arnold is confident that the club is functioning as normal.
“As befits a man of his nature, David did a fantastic job in the nurturing he has given us, the preparation and handover.
“Laying the flight path to the runway is all about preparation.
“Everyone is well aware of the change. But from the inside, in the context of having to make the change, it has been fantastically well done.”
Image courtesy of BBC Sport, via YouTube, with thanks.
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