Ed Woodward branded a "disgrace" by Man Utd dressing room for handling of player exit

Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester United 's dressing room thought Ed Woodward was a “disgrace” for how his exit from the club was handled.

The former Red Devils executive vice-chairman has exited the club after nine years in the role and a total of 16 years at Old Trafford. Woodward was an unpopular figure among the majority of the club’s fans due to the sharp downturn in results during his tenure, while Ferdinand has explained he did not find much support in the dressing room either.

Ferdinand was told in the immediate aftermath of the final match of the 2013-14 campaign that his contract would not be renewed at Old Trafford, bringing an end to his 12-year stay at the club.

The former central defender has now explained how United had not given him any update or indication that season that his deal would not be renewed, while the news that he would be leaving came at a point which he found difficult to digest.

Discussing the topic of loyalty in football, Ferdinand told his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel : "We was playing Southampton away and I’d asked a few times before the last game of the season, a couple of times, 'am I getting a new deal or what?' I wasn’t told.

"Played the game against Southampton, the manager’s not worked 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 to have a send-off at the end which was great, we were all clapping.

"I wasn’t even thinking about myself, it’s weird, I thought in a couple of weeks I’d go and speak to him (Woodward), I’m not sure."

The former central defender continued: "I felt, my genuine feeling, was that the club had told Vida he wasn’t staying, Patrice Evra wasn’t