One of the intriguing aspects of whether United will replace John Murtough and bring in a new director of football is that one of the candidates, Dougie Freedman, has been mentored for many years by fellow Glaswegian, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The pair first met when Freedman's Crystal Palace upset United in the League Cup at Old Trafford in 2011, and they became neighbours and friends the following year when he moved north to manage Bolton.
Freedman was hugely respectful, always referring to him as Mr Ferguson in the way Scots usually call their seniors out of respect, but the one time he politely rejected Fergie's advice has worked out in his favour.