Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists Manchester United have to find the right man to replace Ed Woodward, even if that means ignoring the claims of former teammate Edwin van der Sar.
Woodward confirmed he will be leaving his role in 2021 earlier this week, on the same night the botched European Super League plans collapsed.
United sources have said Woodward was always planning to depart this year and the announcement was nothing to do with the club's involvement in the ESL project.
Woodward has been executive vice-chairman at United since 2012 and he took on more power when David Gill left as chief executive in the summer of 2013. With the search on for a replacement, former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been touted as a potential candidate.
The 50-year-old has been chief executive at Ajax for the past five years and completed a masters in sports and brand management once his playing days had ended.
But Solskjaer believes United must employ the right man rather than taking the sentimental approach.
“It's important we employ the right man - we can’t employ on sentiment but to have Man Utd’s best interests at heart - that’s one of the criteria of course," Solskjaer said when asked about Van der Sar's candidacy.
"But I’m not the one who writes the job description so - of course my job now is to take care of results but whoever [comes in] I’m hopeful I can have a good working relationship with and I can provide results."
United have stumbled since Gill left in 2013, with the loss of his off-pitch expertise in the same summer as Sir Alex Ferguson proving particularly difficult to get over.
Solskjaer enjoys a good working relationship with Woodward, but is confident the club can move on from his departure and continue to make the progress it has been doing under his stewardship.
"I'm pretty sure that we will be able to move on and move forward. We have to deal with Ed's departure, we've had a very good working relationship, he brought me in here, he supported me," he said.
"I've not been involved in discussions over a successor but if they ask my opinion and it comes to that, I'll voice my opinion on what we need. But I'm sure the club is capable of moving forward."
