In the past year, John Murtough and Darren Fletcher were promoted to the first team at Manchester United, where they were welcomed into a team that appeared to be finally on the right track. Murtough was named as the club's first ever football director, while Fletcher was appointed as the club's first ever technical director, positions that had been vacant for some years.

The appointment of Murtough, a person who, when compared to some of his peers, prefers to work under the radar, as well as a former player in Fletcher, seemed to fit with the culture of United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, if the couple was hoping to have any breathing room to get their feet beneath the table, they were swiftly disabused of that notion.

Now, 12 months after their appointments, both have a lot on their plates as they prepare to enter their second years in their respective positions, which will determine whether or not they are successful. The successful transfer window of last summer had been set in motion prior to Murtough's appointment — although he did play a role in presenting the club to new recruits — but as this season has progressed, the true demands of being a football director at Old Trafford have begun to sink in, as has been the case this season.

As part of the interview process for the position of interim manager, Murtough and Fletcher were involved. The role was finally filled by Ralf Rangnick, with whom Murtough had a previous contact after spending time researching the Red Bull network of teams. Although it is possible that Rangnick's consulting role will prove to be an excellent sounding board for Murtough, the German's appointment has not been a success on the field.

It is an appointment Murtough cannot afford to make mistakes with this summer's permanent manager search, and the transfer window will also present difficulties given that United are in the midst of a rebuild and are unlikely to be tempted by the prospect of competing in the Champions League this season.

In addition to providing an opportunity, the exits of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, and Edinson Cavani this summer will also present a challenge. Though Murtough and Fletcher have only been in the position for a year, there is no doubt that the scope of their duty is about to become significantly more difficult.

There have been rumors linking Paul Mitchell to Manchester United since it was reported that he is leaving his position as sporting director at Monaco this summer. When Manchester United won the FA Youth Cup last month, Mitchell and Rangnick sat together to watch the match.

Although Mitchell has been linked to Old Trafford, it is important to remember that Murtough already holds the position, and while he may still need to persuade some supporters of his suitability for the position, the power he possesses has increased since Richard Arnold was appointed chief executive.

The previous earnings conference saw Murtough assigned responsibility for briefing on football concerns, but his rise to prominence under Arnold puts him in the firing line if United's difficulties on the field persist. This summer, he will have a considerable influence on the hiring of a new manager as well as the transfer strategy.

Murtough was also forced to clarify the precise nature of Fletcher's responsibilities in December, after the firefighter found himself in the middle of a blaze over the previous 12 months. Since the exits of Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, the former Manchester United midfielder has established himself as a fixture on the bench, as well as being in charge of the team's warm-ups.

If a new manager comes on board, it's possible that Fletcher will have more clarity about his technical director responsibilities as a result of his own team's presence. It is unquestionably necessary.

However, the scrutiny they have both been subjected to this season serves as a reminder of how, at the moment, everyone at United starts on the back foot. By the time Murtough and Fletcher celebrate their second anniversaries in their respective roles, the jury will have reached a decision on their respective cases. They have a critical few months ahead of them. They must do well.