Ed Woodward always intended to leave Manchester United at the end of 2021. The Manchester Evening News was informed in November that Woodward had planned for this season to be his last full campaign as the United executive vice-chairman but the announcement was brought forward.
United sources expected news of Woodward's departure to leak before external sources confirmed the 49-year-old had resigned.
However, the timing has coincided with Chelsea and Manchester City's planned withdrawal from the seemingly doomed Super League which United were driving, along with the other American-owned Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal.
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