It is testament to the decline of Manchester United that the sacking of their manager, Rubin Amorim, on Monday has been treated as a second-order story. True, rather dramatic events in South America have put such things into their perhaps proper perspective, but you do feel that even if it were an especially slow news day, this once momentous event at English football’s second most successful – and some would still say greatest – club wouldn’t have elicited much more than a shrug.

Amorim has gone out with a bit of a whimper, though the unkind might say he never really arrived. His departure, it appears, was precipitated by a confrontation with director of football Jason Wilcox over a clash of responsibilities. Amorim issued a ‘strong statement’ after the club’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United insisting he wished to be the manager of Manchester United, not just the coach – suggesting he wanted more power over the club’s transfer policy.

He may have a point there. I’m sure I’m not alone among football fans in finding the manager/director of football dichotomy opaque and confusing. It’s a bit like the relationship between the lyricist and writer of the book in a musical, or that between the producer and executive producer of a film. Surely it’s the same job?

Or ought to be? Having one........

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