DEAD Man Walking, or already Yesterday's Man? This morning we found out the answer as David Moyes' reign as manager of Manchester United finally ran its uncomfortable course.

The technicalities involved with informing the New York Stock Exchange of a change in key personnel was considered the main reason why, following extensive speculation on social media and web sites of reputable newspapers, the Old Trafford communication department tried manfully to convince all enquirers, 'There is nothing to see here, now please move along'.

Ironically, that has been the story of Moyes' 10 months at the helm in this shipwreck of a season.

It can be argued it is no time to allow anyone to establish themself in such a high-profile position, especially when they are being asked to fill the boots of one of the true giants of the game, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Before too much sympathy is bestowed upon the 50-year-old Glaswegian, however, it should be remembered he was handed a six-year contract worth £5million per annum when he accepted the challenge last summer.

However, the damage done is not to his bank balance, but to something of far more inherent importance to him, his pride and reputation.

It took several years to start to move up the managerial ladder, cutting his teeth at Preston North End before getting the call to take over from Walter Smith at Everton in 2002.

There, former Coronation Street star and theatre and film impresario, Bill Kenwright, gave him the opportunity to take centre stage.

Moyes not only proved up to the part, but delivered his own great story lines, including taking the Goodison Park club into the Champions League qualifiers.

From the comfortable position of little expectation, he enjoyed tilting at windmills, with more than enough success to mark him as a young manager on the up.

But was having decent finishes in the Barclays Premier League and contesting (unsuccessfully) the odd cup final adequate training to move along the M62 and into Sir Alex's seat at Old Trafford?

As results have shown, the answer is an emphatic no.

Which brings us back to the $64m question: Who decided Moyes was the man?

The general consensus is Fergie dictated who would follow him, a decision he

relayed to the American owners, the Glazer family, who had invested complete trust in his judgement.

If it was, indeed, Sir Alex who made the call, the demise which has ensued must then be shouldered, at least in part, by Fergie.The man who now spends much of his time watching his racehorses run backed a loser, as there are no bookies who pay out on seventh place, United's current position.

They have delivered nothing except the Community Shield and the poorest defence of the championship since Blackburn in 1996.

To see the Old Trafford club fail to even compete this season was never going to be accepted, nor tolerated, by owners of a club which is now a multi-faceted business and for whom the bottom line is the bottom line.

Confirmation Moyes' time was up came very quickly after the defeat at Everton which ensured they could not qualify for next season's Champions League, the Footsie 100, if you like, of top clubs.

The Glazers did invest in Brand Moyes, allowing him to spend £65m on Marouane Fellaini from Everton and, in January, Chelsea's Juan Mata.

However, while the Spaniard is now making a contribution, it is too little and too late to save United or Moyes.

With another transfer window about to reopen, the Glazers are now expected to move for a safer pair of hands belonging to such as Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone or Louis van Gaal.

Moyes was given a side which had won the championship with something to spare last season, so, surely it would be safe to assume the raw materials were already in place?

However, the truth is, the most important component of the collective that won last year's title was Sir Alex.

It can reasonably be argued Fergie's final title was the greatest achievement of all in his 26-year tenure because he did it with his poorest squad.

His second biggest achievement was getting out when he did because it was a miracle he was unlikely to be able to repeat.

The Sorcerer's Apprenctice has now paid the price for picking up the wand when the magic had already been drained.

None of which makes Davie Moyes a bad manager. It just makes him another unemployed manager, the latest victim of the pernicious Premier League.