NO REPACEMENT NEEDED

Since last Friday, when Edwards's departure was announced, there has been speculation that Sir Bobby Charlton, who is a member of the football club board, would take over. Some have even suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson would like the position. Ferguson, however, has never expressed any interest in the job even when he was in the middle of negotiating his departure from Manchester United.

The United plc board found that all the speculation had the potential to be damaging and decided that this was a good time to implement a long overdue change. The best way to take advantage of Edwards's departure is to abolish his position, which has become redundant.