Manchester United's shambolic 4-1 defeat at Watford has been eight years in the making and the major fault line comes from the boardroom rather than the manager's hot seat.
Despite being a shrewd commercial operator and affable personality, executive Ed Woodward has managed to screw up nearly every big football decision since being asked to follow David Gill and run the biggest club in the world.
His determination to hold on to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after successive home humiliations against United's biggest rivals Liverpool and Manchester City produced a collapse at Vicarage Road labelled an 'embarrassment' by David de Gea, sole survivor from Sir Alex Ferguson's last title team.
Ed Woodward (left) must shoulder the responsibility for Manchester United's failings, whether or not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) is sacked following the 4-1 humiliation away to Watford
Woodward has been the kingmaker in a series of bad decisions that have led to this malaise
Solskjaer will carry the can at some point, indeed his demeanour last night was someone who is no longer in control of his destiny and few will argue his case to stay after insipidly trying to handle the egos inside Old Trafford.
But Woodward bears far greater responsibility. After all, he has been the kingmaker who has appointed David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer, all of whom have failed.
If he had not already agreed to step down following another fiasco, the European Super League, he would have a hard time convincing the fans he deserved to stay and make more decisions.
Along with Richard Arnold (left), the vice-chairman (right) has badly mishandled the club
He appointed Jose Mourinho as manager when the Portuguese's career was on a down turn
Woodward is the chap who gave a fading Wayne Rooney a bumper new contract when Ferguson advised to sell.
He sold Memphis Depay instead of keeping him — Depay is now thriving with Barcelona and Holland — and did not cash in on Paul Pogba when the Frenchman wanted to leave, potentially costing United
