Man Utd signing Jamaica want Spence, referee overhaul, Liverpool tour – The Athletic

There was fresh disappointment for Manchester United on Saturday when they were held at home by Southampton to deepen frustrations at Old Trafford amid a turbulent chapter in the club’s history.

In the nine years since Sir Alex Ferguson left the helm after a 20th and still youngest league title, United have seen tremendous changes on and off the pitch.

Key decisions taken over the last 12 months included the promotion of John Murtough from head of football development to director of football and Darren Fletcher from academy coach to technical director.

This is seen as a fundamental area as United look to modernize their football setup and ultimately recapture their former glory, with Murtough in particular taking on a growing range of roles.

Numerous departments and individuals report at Murtough, including Fletcher, and United have realized the workload is too much for one person and he would benefit from support.

They have therefore, as The Athletic can reveal, opted to appoint an assistant director of football who will work under Murtough and help bolster an increasingly prominent side of United’s operations.

The recruitment process is believed to be well into the interview phase, with a number of options being spoken to and within the framework for a role that is not what Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion have been doing of late seems too dissimilar. Liverpool backed Michael Edwards with Julian Ward and Brighton fielded David Weir as No2 under Dan Ashworth.