It is understood Van Gaal has only been allowed to stagger on this long because Woodward does not want to sack another manager in mid-season, having ended David Moyes’s reign at Old Trafford in 2014 after just 10 months.
He is concerned about how another failed managerial appointment would reflect upon him when compared to the stability brought to the club by his predecessor David Gill’s strong relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. Not to mention the many millions squandered on unsuccessful signings.
Woodward had hoped that Van Gaal would prove critics wrong and oversee an upturn in results and performances, but the prospect of that looks more remote than ever.