I think this is a result of Rangnick leaving.
Not to say he's a panic hire, I'm guessing they had a contingency plan incase Rangnick didn't work out (which may have became apparent in the last 6 months working with him daily)
The ‘Deputy Football Director’ position | 31.05.2022 - Andy O’Boyle appointed
- Thread starter Chairman Steve
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Not to say he's a panic hire, I'm guessing they had a contingency plan incase Rangnick didn't work out (which may have became apparent in the last 6 months working with him daily)
His name was mentioned before Ralf went I think. Ralf was always going to be working from a distance and once he took the Austria job it would always be a problem with him looking out for our clubs welfare and his international job.
If that’s the case then it’s immediately a sign of the club being run better than it has in the last close to 20 years, realising mistakes and correcting them as fast as we have has to be a positive. In fact I’d say it’s a better sign than not making any mistakes at all (as in we now know that there’s not too much ego to stick through with something that’s failed, I’d obviously rather not have had the mistakes)
O'Boyle's name has been floating around the deputy director of football role for months.
Well let's hope he's up to it.
Be prepared for him to mention Fletcher being promoted 2 times in 4 months.
This doesn’t really negate the posters point to be fair, it’s very possible that the club were aware in February that the plan to keep Ralf around wasn’t likely to be tenable given he was already publicly showing his arse every week.
The club wouldn't put out a press release upon the Austria job that they were keeping him only to get rid of him several weeks later. Ralf was very much in the clubs plans. Something has changed.
Which really drives home how poor of a CEO Woodward has been. 11 years on, someone has to come in and do the job he was supposed to do 11 years ago
Deputy DOF is usually a guy who is on his way up and will be the natural successor to the DOF - I don't think a 63 year old was ever in consideration for that job.
I would say quitely increase your confidence. Next season could be another complete car crash on the field as a lot of the structural changes will not yield any instant benefit. That said, the club are putting the structures in place that would encourage success and football being the focal point. Get it right on the pitch and till will keep on going kerching, music to the Glazers Ears.
Sounds good to me.
Also like that John Murtoughs mention of the team at Carrington as opposed to spending all his time hobnobbing in our London office like Woodward.
Also like that John Murtoughs mention of the team at Carrington as opposed to spending all his time hobnobbing in our London office like Woodward.
A deputy/assistant football director is the norm at clubs with a DoF/head coach model. A DoF cannot function in his role without being assisted by a able deputy.
I'm beginning to resent this club looking so competent
He was linked to the job months ago. Rangnick wanted Mitchell for the role, the club went for this guy instead
We've been looking for a deputy DOF for months. This thread was started in February. Ralph was never going to be deputy DOF on 6 days a month. It's incomparable to a full time role.
If Speculation is what you want then:
Murtough oversight and management of club structure and appointments likely with some sign of in player signings.
O’Boyle assists Murtough in his role with a particular focus on managing and improving our medical and sports science teams
Fletcher not too sure to be honest but probably consults and supports Murtough in his duties with a particular focus on the playing staff and on pitch results
all educated guesses, how educated? You decide.
I think the photo you're seeing is from about 5 years ago, or more, so I dare say he's made it since then.
I thought they wanted Mitchell for contract negotiator which is still a vacant role since Judge got the boot. May hamper our summer window too since Mitchell committed to his current club.
Obviously I know jack sht about this guy except what I have read but he doesnt exactly scream best in class does he? Is this what that fancy recruitment agency came up with?
So, we've got a sports science specialist who once worked with Klopp. Inhalers out?
What is Murtough's experience at first team squad building and recruitment?
How is he better qualified for overseeing recruitment over the likes of Rangnick/Mitchell?
How is he better qualified for overseeing recruitment over the likes of Rangnick/Mitchell?
I agree with that decision if that were the case. Calling players out is fine, but it seemed like there was more discussion about this than the actual football performance on the pitch. I got a feeling Ralf was poor at man management. Some of our players are a problem too, but surely you need to make it work during the season.
As usual in these situations it's easier to direct you to a few of Adnan's posts on the subject.
This has been done to death so many times over the past several months, I'm getting bored of reading questions like this and seeing the explanations.
Mods can we get a sticky of @Adnan's in-depth explanations of Murtough's/Fletchers roles posted on the main Man Utd board?
Which really drives home how poor of a CEO Woodward has been. 11 years on, someone has to come in and do the job he was supposed to do 11 years ago
Deputy DOF is usually a guy who is on his way up and will be the natural successor to the DOF - I don't think a 63 year old was ever in consideration for that job.
Woodward in my guestimate had the org structure so convoluted, bloated that everything was done by committee with him having the final say-so including football matters. That's why the transfers would take so long -- nobody really had a strategy -- contract extensions for players that managers that has sub-optimal usage for. It was purely driven from financial perspective ie retaining player value. It was a power grab by him after the most powerful man in the club retired.
And after spending £1.2Billion we have nothing to show for with a bunch of players have left or leaving the club after running out their contracts -- a huge failure based on Woodward's financial prism ie shareholder value.
To me the buck stops with Woodward -- playing politics and wanted to be the puppet master within United rather than having a rationalised, streamlined organisation where there isn't so much wastage of resources or overlapping of functions.
I would class the new thinking/new staff/new structure as not happening until Woodward departed
Very good
Hope he can give out lot those inhalers as well.
Yeah you can't restructure the football side of things in five minutes after years of stagnation
Ralph's tenure did turn out to be rubbish and a waste of time really. In his defence however, the players knew they didn't need to give it their all as he would be the one leaving at the end of the season so he was on the back foot from the start. There was also a breakdown in communication with regards to Carrick and McKenna, Ralph was led to believe that both would be available to him and it turned out neither was.
Lastly the Greenwood situation was also a big blow at a crucial stage of the season.
I think those are three factors ensured that his tenure would be a failure
What do you mean by appointed a mechanic in the middle of the race? The season has just ended has it not.
Hope so mate. I know I'm being overly negative. I'm just slightly cynical about why we're so keen to tell everyone we're changing this and that after we've just missed out on champs league (and signings) by hiring a DoF instead of a manager.
It’s amazing how many folk start off by saying “I don’t know much about this guy..” then proceed to slate him. 
Always liked Andy, good man.
O'Boyle rules!
Aside from the failed Rangnick management job, we don’t know what benefit we picked from his brain. Arnold May have got the restructure from him and ran with it.
hindsight is a wonderful thing though.
i still wouldn’t have gone with Conte or Poch. I think both are bad fits. Conte in particular I think is a short term manager. We’d have to do the whole thing after he left. Best take the hit now and get the structure and club ready to pounce when city or Liverpool lose their coach. It’ll happen. Football goes in cycles
The words "competent" and "MUFC" do not go together.
We've just finished up with the worst run of form seen in decades. We are currently rock bottom. Nobody in their right mind could debate that we are being run competently.
And before anybody says, "We are heading in the right direction". I'll believe it when I see it.
Not asking their role. Asking are they more qualified to oversee recruitment than Mitchell/Rangnick? I think we all know the answer to that.
And it looks like Jose Mayorga, Simon Wells and Mick Court, (head of data analytics) will head the recruitment department. Steve Brown and his team will be coordinating the scouting operation around the world, making sure the scouts are logistically well supported.
Because we are one of the most followed if not the most followed club in the world. Having that many fans mean there's no satisfying everyone and we'll always have some negativity from the fan base. Even in the Fergie years we had that. I am pretty much indifferent to some fans whining or complaining now.