Manchester United manager David Moyes axes assistants Mike Phelan and Eric Steele While Phelan's exit had been anticipated, the end of Steele's time at United has come as a surprise, with his work with De Gea being credited as crucial to the youngster's improvement in recent months. Both Phelan and Steele had been involved in planning for the pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, but with Moyes keen to reshape his staff, the two men have been told their future lies away from Old Trafford. Moyes has yet to announce who will join his backroom staff, but it is understood that Chris Woods, who has served under the Scot at Everton, is in contention to move to Old Trafford to fill the goalkeeping role vacated by Steele. Jimmy Lumsden, who worked with Moyes at Preston and Everton, is also expected to move to United and there could also be positions for Phil Neville, the former United defender who is leaving Everton this summer, and Moyes's Goodison Park assistant, Steve Round. United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, a popular and respected figure among the Old Trafford squad, has yet to discover whether he will be retained by Moyes. Rooney's situation is the next key issue for Moyes to resolve, but with the England squad due to report on Monday ahead of the forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, the two men may not thrash out the 27-year-old's future until early June. Outgoing United chief executive David Gill expects Rooney to remain at the club and be a part of Moyes's squad, however. Gill said: "As Sir Alex said at his last press conference, that's an issue for David Moyes. I'm confident he will be there next season, he is a great player and the club doesn't want to lose its star players. I'm sure every bit of work is being taken with Wayne and his advisers and the club to make sure that happens.