Manchester United decision to get a technical director proof they are willing to evolve after falling behind

And now for the appointment of a technical director. Manchester United are to push ahead with the recruitment of someone to work alongside, rather than above, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now that the Norwegian has been appointed manager. And someone who has a similar feel for the club, which would suggest an internal appointment or another former player.

Despite the fierce criticism United have faced over their patchy transfer dealings, the club do not believe they are in need of an overhaul in the way they operate. Instead, they argue that a number of changes have already been made behind-the-scenes to modernise their approach. They do not need more change, they say.

But there is an acceptance that, having spoken long enough about hiring someone to drive the long-term strategy forward, it is anachronistic that a club of United’s stature and resources does not have a technical director.

And it will be a technical director, rather than a director of football, and someone who does not sit above Solskjaer and between him and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The manager will not report to the technical director but the latter will, nevertheless, take a longer-term view on the first-team, loan players, the academy and, significantly, have an input (rather than overall control) of transfers. He will work with Solskjaer.

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That may dismay some fans given the argument, with foundation, that Woodward’s overseeing of recruitment – players as well as managers – has been far from impressive. The criticism will be that United still do not possess a figure with the network of contacts to act quickly and decisively in the transfer market.

Nevertheless, the most important aspect of who United want fits with the reset of the club. After the successive failures of managers David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, who tried to reinvent United, the club are determined to continue hiring people who have a genuine feel for the club, with a similar cultural fit.

That would point to the possibility of another former player being employed to a key role. Peter Schmeichel, for example, has already declared it would be a position for which he would consider applying and, while there are no indications that it could be him, it may be someone with a similar background.

It could yet be an internal appointment and both John Murtagh, the head of youth development, and Tony Whelan, the assistant academy director, have been linked in recent weeks.

United have not ruled out appointing someone who does not have direct links or a history with Old Trafford, but it has to be a candidate who has a grasp of what the club stands for and represents. That suggests United have realised the scale of the mistakes they have made in the past when they talked about preserving the club’s DNA, but hired managers intent on changing that.

The success of Solskjaer’s appointment, since he became Mourinho’s successor as caretaker in mid-December appears to have convinced United that they had moved too far away from what the club was and, crucially, what the fans want.

It is partly why the initial plan to wait until the end of the season was abandoned. Solskjaer has completed the best possible audition, if you like, since he took over and so there was no point in waiting any longer. He has restored United to closer to what it wants to be in mood, in style of play, in perception and so the next stage will be someone who also fits into that; rather than someone who is a “big-hitter” who wants to take charge or reinvent the club.

Working alongside Solskjaer is part of that but it should not be construed as the new manager deciding who that person should be. Mourinho talked about wanting a director of football and, after his sacking, complained that United did not have the right structure in place to cope with the demands of modern football.

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This caused anger at United. While he spoke about wanting someone, it seemed that individual had to be approved by the “Special One” – hence the apparent championing of fellow Portuguese Luis Campos, who worked with Mourinho at Real Madrid, and is now at Lille and has a strong track record.

However, United balked at that, realising it would be a managerial ally rather than a club-led appointment who would be more independent.

Solskjaer has a very collegiate approach to being the United manager and it does appear the club want to widen that policy. The former striker is, emphatically, not making decisions on his own and the influence of Mike Phelan in particular should not be underestimated. Sources in the dressing room refer to it as a joint approach with Michael Carrick also becoming an increasingly important figure. That partnership is now going to be extended with a new technical director.