With the opening of the transfer window just two months away, Manchester United aren't giving out the impression of a club with their ducks in a row.
The resignation of director of football negotiations Matt Judge this week is the latest sign of an institution unsure of itself. Judge was United's go-to man for agents and, as his job title suggests, was essentially in charge of the numbers when it came to doing deals.
To lose someone in that role when talks with agents will be stepping up a gear now the end of the season in sight doesn't portray much sign of stability, but it's clear that change is afoot at Old Trafford as well.
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Judge played a vital role in the discussions over Erik ten Hag's contract but he will now play no part in the forthcoming transfer window. Deals may only be done from June 10 but by this stage of the season preliminary talks are always underway.
United wanted the appointment of Ten Hag signed and sealed in April so they could tell those transfer targets who their manager would be next season, but now the man who would lead those negotiations has gone.
Judge's departure follows the exit of two of United's leading scouts, chief scout Jim Lawlor and head of global scouting Marcel Bout.
The upheaval comes at a time when United are facing arguably their most crucial transfer window since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. It's just over a week since interim manager and soon-to-be recruitment consultant Ralf Rangnick suggested they could need as many as 10 new players.
That always looked fanciful and a figure half that number would be seen as a good window. United's existing structure might not have been popular amongst supporters but last summer's transfer window was a success and Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo have all improved United.
Judge won't be replaced directly at this stage - which may well be a sign United's recruitment structure was evolving without him. There has been change in various departments at the club since chief executive Richard Arnold replaced Ed Woodward at the start of February.
Arnold has taken a more collegiate approach, empowering heads of department to take charge of their own specialisms, and it's clear United are making changes to how they operate in terms of recruitment.
Rangnick has recently held more substantial talks with the club over his two-year consultancy role and he will have a focus on recruitment advice, an area he has had success in with the Red Bull network of clubs.
The departure of Judge will again strengthen the hand of football director John Murtough. The unassuming Murtough has been at the club since being brought in by David Moyes and he was appointed as United's first football director just over a year ago.
This is now undeniably his transfer window. Murtough will lead on recruitment throughout the summer, with support from legal specialists within the club, a further sign Judge's role might just be phased out.
Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher will now be in charge of steering the football operation. One of the attractions of Ten Hag was how he has worked so well in a similar structure at Ajax.
Rangnick's friendship with Paul Mitchell, the current sporting director at Monaco, has led to Mitchell being linked with a role at Old Trafford.
He is a Mancunian and was at an FA Youth Cup fixture in February, sitting alongside Rangnick. United are considering further appointments within the football structure, but Mitchell isn't an imminent arrival.
Murtough and Fletcher remain at the head of that structure and that doesn't leave an obvious role for Mitchell, who has plenty of power at Monaco and has been linked with a major role at Chelsea once a takeover is complete at Stamford Bridge.
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