Ed Woodward stepped down from his position as executive vice-chairman of Manchester United in February.
Woodward spent 16 years at Old Trafford and there can be no objections to stating his premiership as executive vice-chairman - that role made him the most powerful figure at the club that wasn't a member of the Glazer family - was a colossus disaster.
It was little wonder the Bristol University graduate's exit was celebrated earlier this year. Woodward's exit was symbolic, but supporters were sent a painful reminder of the reality of his tenure on Tuesday afternoon when Manchester City announced the signing of Erling Haaland for just £51million for Borussia Dortmund. It showed Woodward's mistakes are still haunting United.
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There have been 98 days since Woodward left the club yet Haaland's arrival at the Etihad proved it will take years to undo his extensive failings. Woodward became United's kingmaker in 2013 and United won just three trophies during his tenure.
United hopelessly meandered under Woodward and the club is now unrecognisable. The standards at United have drifted towards the abyss. United have just equalled their longest trophy drought for 40 years this term and that's a consequence of Woodward's incompetence. The Glazers and Woodward have degraded what it means to be Manchester United over the last decade.
Woodward was handsomely paid as United's executive vice-chairman - the club grew comfortable with mediocrity under his watch - and he might have been strolling around a golf course on Tuesday when the news of City's bargain deal for Haaland broke.
Woodward wouldn't have blinked at that announcement, but ordinary United supporters would have grimaced seeing the deal made official. Woodward doesn't have to live with the consequences of his failed tenure as executive vice-chairman at Old Trafford.
It's the fans, who are the fabric of the club, who are affected instead. His actions will have ramifications for years to come. It's a sad indictment of society that it's always ordinary people that are affected most by the failings of the powerful and wealthy.
It was the world's worst kept secret that Haaland would be available this summer. The centre-forward has spent two seasons with Dortmund, scoring 85 goals in 88 games, and his burgeoning reputation and release clause ensured Dortmund were always going to be helpless in keeping him. The continent's most elite sides have been plotting to sign Haaland for some time now.
Woodward's mistakes as executive vice-chairman have meant United were never in contention to sign him when the opportunity finally arose. United regressed beyond recognition under his leadership and they're now just sixth in the Premier League.
United have failed to qualify for the Champions League this season. Haaland was never going to be embarrassed by walking out to the Europa League music. Haaland wants an environment already conducive to winning silverware and that's not Carrington. It was when Woodward was appointed as executive vice-chairman, but now - just under 10 years later - that destination is Man City.
Haaland had earned the luxury of being able to pick which club he wants to play for next and you would have been inclined to question his mental state if that destination had been United. The allure and the pull of the club will always remain to some extent, but it would be naive to think that's enough to attract the world's best players. Haaland certainly isn't delusional.
It has been a horrific season at United. There have been post-mortems after post-mortems and, while the spinless squad are accountable for that, the mistakes of Woodward's tenure have ultimately been the main cause of death.
Woodward's mistakes will haunt United for years to come and Haaland's arrival at City is a painful reminder of that.
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