Manchester United are under pressure from sponsors adidas to arrest falling shirt sales — but the German kit producer was not behind chief executive Ed Woodward's departure from the club.
Woodward announced his intention to leave two weeks ago as the fallout from the ill-fated European Super League intensified.
There have been suggestions within football circles that the Germans may have been responsible for Woodward's departure, due to his role in the ESL farce and lack of trophies in recent seasons.
Sources close to adidas — United's largest sponsor — have suggested they were disappointed not to have been briefed by United chiefs over their ESL plans.