David Moyes has shown he will be his own man as Manchester United manager by letting go the assistant manager, Mike Phelan, and the goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele, with Sir Alex Ferguson's successor stating he would like to appoint his own staff "some time in the future".
With the Scot going on holiday next week the decision to allow Phelan, a former United player who had been a member of United's backroom team for 12 years, and Steele to depart completes a busy first few days at the club.
On Thursday Rio Ferdinand signed a fresh one-year deal, while Moyes is weighing up a move for Everton's Marouane Fellaini and also hoping to convince the unsettled Wayne Rooney he should stay.
Everton's Steve Round and Chris Woods are in the frame to replace Phelan and Steele in their respective positions, though the Merseyside club has not yet been approached by United.
Phelan had been assistant to Ferguson since 2008, having previously been first-team coach from 2001. Steele joined as goalkeeping coach five years ago and was widely credited with turning around the faltering career of the young Spanish keeper David De Gea. His departure may raise eyebrows as Steele's determination to help De Gea stretched to having learned Spanish to communicate better with him.
Moyes said: "I would like to put on record the club's thanks for everything Mike and Eric have done. I will be looking to appoint my own members of coaching staff at some point in the future. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to give them both our best wishes for their future careers."
Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, said: "I'd like to thank Eric and Mick for the enormous contributions they have made to the success of Manchester United in their time here. Their professionalism, ability and diligence have been a credit to them. They are top-class football men and everyone here wishes them well for long and successful careers in the game."
Despite not officially starting his six-year contract until 1 July, Moyes began work at United at the start of the week with a busy in-tray. He is considering prising Fellaini from Everton, with the midfielder's £24m release clause no barrier to any prospective deal should he decide to lodge a bid. Moyes, though, is not currently minded to bring Fellaini's team-mate Leighton Baines to United.
Paul Scholes's retirement, Anderson's unconvincing form and Darren Fletcher's uncertain future due to a bowel condition has left United with only Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, plus the 39-year-old Ryan Giggs, as their front-line central midfielders.
Despite Fellaini operating at times in the No10 position from where he scored Everton's winner against United in the opening match of last season, Moyes views him as a deep-lying midfielder.
Regarding the future of Rooney, Moyes is minded to keep him at United. It is thought that, with the striker's wife having just given birth to his second son, he and Moyes have yet to meet for discussions.
David Gill, the outgoing chief executive, is confident Rooney will remain at Old Trafford. "I think as Alex said at his last press conference, that's an issue for David Moyes and the new team to do, but look – I'm confident he'll be there next season," he told Sky Sports.
"He's a great player, it's a great club and the club doesn't want to lose its star players. I'm sure every bit of work is being taken with Wayne, his advisers and David and Ed etc to ensure that happens. I'm not a betting man, but I'm confident when I sit in Old Trafford next season I'll be seeing Wayne Rooney running out."
Having been elected to Uefa's executive committee, Gill confirmed he will now take a reduced role at United. "I have freed up the time. The football club board, the one Alex is going to join and Sir Bobby [Charlton] is on, that's very much an ambassadorial type role. Any player business that is happening at Manchester United this summer will be done by the new manager with my successor Ed," he said. "I'm stepping down from that privilege of being chief executive of Manchester United for 10 years. The new team is in place and we wish them every success."
