United simply can’t afford to get it wrong again

Now the dust is beginning to settle on Manchester United’s sacking of David Moyes, and as critics root through the reasons for his departure and the list of possible replacements, there remains another hugely important question to answer: Where does Alex Ferguson fit into it all?

It is an uncomfortable thought given everything Ferguson achieved at Old Trafford but there is no hiding from the fact that Manchester United’s most successful manager chose his successor — and got it horribly wrong.

The departure of Moyes is unlikely in the long run to play a big part in the story of Ferguson’s legacy, not given the remarkable list of trophies he won before retirement, but for the moment it does leave a small stain — one that creates a dilemma for the board as they decide how to choose a man for 2014-15.

Looking back, and with the benefit of hindsight, it seems obvious that allowing Ferguson to be king maker had potential to cause problems. It left Moyes with more to live up to than is healthy — and with the ‘Chosen One’ banner looking down at him from one end of the ground and Sir Alex staring down, however supportively, from the directors’ box, this was always going to be a difficult job. More importantly, it undermined United’s principle of collective responsibility at board level; Ferguson had every right to contribute to the search for a new manager but giving him, so publicly, a chance to nominate his successor has backfired in the most uncomfortable of ways.

The question now is how to handle that issue going forward? It would be foolish not to involve Ferguson in the search for Moyes’ replacement, his immense experience and knowledge of the club is an asset that cannot be wasted, but it may well be politic to remove him from the firing line, not for his own sake but for the next man who is chosen to start the job of repairing Manchester United’s team and reputation. According to those close to United, Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, will be the man to publicly head the search and will emphasise the decision reached will be a board decision and not a one-man selection policy.

It was Woodward, having replaced the well-respected David Gill, who made such a mess of last summer’s transfer market; but the search for a new manager should not be such a difficult task given the quality of names already on the radar. And if, as is likely, he settles on Dutchman Louis van Gaal, there should be far fewer issues in future for a manager who will have no problems winning a ‘medals on the table’ competition with players clearly unimpressed with Moyes’ lack of previous Premier League and Champions League success

Van Gaal is said to be “very keen” to become manager of United, although the fact he is contracted as manager of Holland until after the World Cup may make summer transfers and contract renewals a little more complicated. His arrival would, however, ensure that Dutch striker Robin van Persie stays at the club.

As a world-renowned manager van Gaal not only has a history of winning trophies at almost every club he has been involved with but is credited with beginning a revolution at Bayern Munich that has seen them become the most feared club in Europe (and although he was dismissed in 2011 and it has taken other managers to finish the job, that is experience of real value at a club that needs to replicate the Bayern story in north west England).

All in all he seems a far better fit to replace Sir Alex Ferguson than Moyes could ever be and, you suspect, only a desire to take the Netherlands to Brazil this summer prevented him being a more pressing candidate a year ago. This time, whatever happens, United have to make the right decision because they simply cannot afford to get it wrong twice in a row.

It will take a brave man to suggest to Alex Ferguson he should operate a little more in the shadows this time; but that may well be Mr Woodward’s task this morning.