Club spend a year deciding Butt should replace McClair

On February 27th 2015, it was confirmed that Brian McClair would be leaving his post as director of United’s youth academy to take on the job of performance director for the Scottish Football Association. The club likely knew of the possibility of the move before then though, as McClair had gone to Sir Alex Ferguson for advice when he was approached about the new role.

Still, a year has gone by, and it only now that reports are emerging that United are set to name McClair’s replacement. You would imagine given how long the appointment has taken, that the club will have searched far and wide to find their new man.

Apparently not.

It is Nicky Butt, who will oversee the restoration of United’s academy. Given that he is a product of the academy, spent years playing for the club, and has been on the coaching staff at the academy for the past four years, it’s fairly bizarre it has taken United so long to decide he is the man for the job.

The U-21s are currently in a great position in the league, topping the table after a run of 12 home wins on the trot. They are two points clear of Sunderland and have a game in hand, but 11 clear of third placed Everton on the same number of games, and 13 clear of City on the same games.

It’s a different story for the U-18s though, who are 11th out of 12 in the Northern League, with Paul McGuinness leaving the job as their manager last week.