It has been more than four months since Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho and decided that a head of football would be appointed as part of a long-overdue operational restructure.
United's behind-the-scenes stagnation began long before Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 but it is only over the last six years that it has become obvious just how far the Reds have fallen behind Europe's elite off the field.
Ferguson was one of the last omnipotent Premier League rulers but there is no longer a place in football for that kind of all-seeing, all-knowing manager and United have failed to keep up with the development of the clubs around them.
Up until the turn of the century the concept of a technical director was primarily a continental one but it is one that has been adopted by several English clubs in recent years.
In fact, 75 per cent of the Premier League's members have one. The official term varies from club to club (technical director/head of football/sporting director/director of football) but the role is essentially the same: an intermediary between a club's board and its manager.
Manchester United chief Ed Woodward impressed by Rio Ferdinand talks
Manchester City possess perhaps the best-known director of football in the division: Txiki Begiristain. Liverpool have Michael Edwards, Arsenal have Raul Sanllehi, Tottenham have Rebecca Caplehorn and Everton have Marcel Brands.
One-hundred-and-thirty-six days have passed since Mourinho's sacking at the time of publication and United appear to be no closer to settling on somebody to fill the position.
Club greats Edwin van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand have been mentioned as potential candidates, Peter Schmeichel launched his hat into the ring in the days following Mourinho's sacking while Mike Phelan's name refuses to go away.
Manchester United can find solution to problem position with cut-price Ajax transfer
Monchi was mooted before his return to Sevilla was confirmed in March, while links with Paul Mitchell of RB Leipzig have died down.
The truth is, though, that United have missed the boat on the technical director front as far as this summer is concerned.
Even if Ed Woodward were to make an appointment this week, which is highly unlikely, the person who gets the job will have had no input on the club's summer transfer targets.
Perhaps the greatest task entrusted to a technical director is to put together a coherent recruitment strategy. United haven't had one of those in years.
Marouane Fellaini was United's sole signing in David Moyes' only summer in charge, while the majority of Louis van Gaal's recruits flopped and of Mourinho's signings, only Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an unqualified success.
United will undoubtedly get around to appointing a technical director but the chosen man or woman will be too late to make a difference in the transfer market until 2020 and that is another blunder that Woodward must be held accountable for.
Manchester United 2019/20 home kit leaked as shirt accidentally goes on sale early
