The art of media management, or spin, is in the spotlight this morning as Davie Moyes returns to work at Manchester United.
At lunchtime yesterday, from various sources, news emerged that the one-time Celtic defender was about to be sacked or had been sacked less than a year into his six year contract at Old Trafford.
Social media went into meltdown as the story snowballed with Jose Mourinho on his way to Old Trafford while Moyes became Tim Sherwood’s successor at Spurs!
On a bank holiday Monday stories like Moyes being sacked don’t surface without substance with the heavy hint that the news was leaked from within Old Trafford to soften the impact of the news and attempt to keep the story under control.
Every news agency quickly jumped on the story with the spotlight turning on the official Old Trafford PR machine which went into retreat before weakly sending out a message that ‘Davie Moyes has not been sacked’.
The story was confirmed this morning on the club’s twitter account.
Manchester United have a reputation for being the ultimate professionals in every field but are clearly in-experienced in handling managerial change.
A number of sub plots are certain to emerge in the fall out from Moyes’ departure but the handling of the crisis is likely to prove costly for the club.
With little sign of a replacement identified- and campaigns underway from various candidates- the new man will be able to negotiate a kings ransom for himself as well as a massive transfer budget.
There is no obvious successor out there- with the cat out the bag the next few days and weeks are certain to be very stressful with the focus turning on the Glazer family and their lack of knowledge of the soccer business.
With Ferguson scowling in the background over his chosen one being overthrown, yesterdays leaks have created a monster with no signs of anyone within Old Trafford capable of taking control.
