Former Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was unpopular in the club's dressing room following his handling of Rio Ferdinand's departure.
Rio Ferdinand has alleged that Ed Woodward was a "disgrace" in Manchester United's locker room because of how his departure from the club was handled.
The former Manchester United executive vice-chairman has left the club after nine years in the position and 16 years at Old Trafford. Woodward was unpopular with the majority of the club's fans due to the drastic drop in results during his time, and Ferdinand has stated that he did not find much support in the dressing room either.
Ferdinand was informed immediately following the final match of the 2013-14 season that his contract at Old Trafford would not be renewed, bringing an end to his 12-year tenure with the club.
The former central defender has now stated how United did not provide him with any updates or indications that his contract would not be renewed that season, and that the news that he would be leaving came at a difficult time for him.
Ferdinand stated on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel about football loyalty: "We were playing Southampton away, and I'd asked a number of times before the final game of the season, 'am I getting a new deal or what?' I was not informed.
"The game against Southampton was played, but the manager hasn't figured out what he's doing yet; delay, delay. Get to the Southampton game, play Southampton, Vida (Nemanja Vidic) knew because he didn't renew, so he got a beautiful send-off at the end, we were all clapping.
"I wasn't even thinking about myself, it's strange, I assumed I'd go and speak to him (Woodward) in a couple of weeks, I'm not sure."
The former central defender went on to say: "My true feeling was that the club had told Vida he wouldn't be staying, Patrice Evra wouldn't be staying, Ryan Giggs wouldn't be staying... At that moment, three or four major characters leave, leaders and captains joining a squad in need of captains and leaders, and the culture continues.
"I figured if they were leaving, there was a chance I'd stay because there was no way they'd let all of us go, which was mind-boggling if they let us all go, couldn't see it then we all departed. It seemed odd to me, but I was told that when the CEO, Ed Woodward, entered the locker room, they would say things like "well played, unlucky, fantastic game, good win" or anything, and that all the directors would do that, and he was one of them."
Ferdinand then remembered: "Ten minutes after the game, he (Woodward) just stated, "By the way, we're not going to renew your contract at the time." I was just numb, and a couple guys asked me after the game, "What happened?" They had seen me talking to them and my reaction, and I'm not very good at masking my feelings, so I was sitting there, dumbfounded.
"I knew I was shot physically, but I felt there was more to offer if these players were leaving the club, more to provide and to give the changing room. Some of the players exclaimed, "Wow, that's a disgrace, I can't believe it." I understand that no one has a God-given right to a send-off."
United's 2013-14 season was one of the most challenging in recent memory, as they forfeited their Premier League title and ended seventh under David Moyes — who was fired with few games remaining in the season. Ferdinand was among many veteran players who left the team at the end of the season.
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