Manchester United have been rebuilding since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. The legendary United manager departed at the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season, leaving a void that has been difficult to fill.
Now, the Red Devils are undergoing a top-to-bottom overhaul.
The investment in the reform includes new signings and new management.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the latest round of changes will likely include the departure of Manchester United’s director of football operations, executive Alan Dawson.
He reports that Dawson, a holdover from the Ed Woodward era, will resign his position. Dawson had held the position since 2017 and will continue to work on an “unspecified special project.”
Ornstein confirms that United have declined to comment. In addition, the exit has not yet been officially confirmed. Sources close to the situation expect Dawson to leave the club in due course.
Dawson has held the role of United since April 2012, after 17 years of service in the Royal Air Force.
He had a long list of responsibilities.
Ornstein relays, “His responsibilities were more focused on logistics and infrastructure than sports performance, including areas like travel, security and training ground operations.”
“It is the latest in a series of behind-the-scenes moves, which have seen former director of football negotiations Matt Judge and director of strategy Hemen Tseayo exit. The amendments follow the appointment of Richard Arnold as chief executive last January and the expansion of John Murtough’s role as director of football.”
A two-way street
Ornstein goes on to stress that turnover at United consists of departures and new arrivals. Detailing some of the arrivals, he says: “O’Boyle was appointed deputy director of football, Polly Bancroft became director of women’s football and Dominic Jordan the new director of data science.”
As new blood enters the ranks of the Red Devils and the last bits of the Woodward era are shown at the door, a quiet sense of faith returns to the Theater of Dreams.
Once-dominant Manchester United may well restore their reputation as a powerhouse in world football.
