The process of Manchester United moving on from the legendary reign of Sir Alex Ferguson has been costly in a sporting, emotional and quite literal sense.
Michael Carrick represents the club’s seventh permanent appointment in the 13 years since Ferguson’s retirement and the contract which he signed is a consequence of the wreckage that has gone before him. Rather than the three-year deals which all of his immediate predecessors have been treated to, Carrick was only offered a cautious 24 months, with the option of an extra year.
