In April, Skinner faced questions about his future, insisting he had "no doubts" that he remained the best person for the job. United lost the League Cup final to Chelsea, missed out on a top-three finish by nine points but had reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. But United sources say as the new season approached, discussions took place and it was clear Skinner and the club were not aligned on the direction they were going. As United moved towards a sustainable model, focused on youth development, Skinner had become increasingly frustrated at a lack of squad investment. Following their 3-0 defeat by rivals Manchester City in March, Skinner said: "The team are giving absolutely everything they can.