Woodward also stressed, as did Moyes, that United were "financially in a strong position and we can afford to buy stars" and would back the manager in any targets he wanted to pursue, no matter how expensive.
The chief executive confirmed, as Moyes stated, that Rooney, who has returned from United's pre?season tour with a hamstring injury, would not be sold at present and although the intention not to offer him a new deal will dismay the player, the manager has also gone out of his way to lavish praise on him.
"I think he's got a major role to play," Moyes said, adding that United were unlikely to alter their forward line this summer.
"We need to see how it works. Maybe in a year's time we might have to look at something else," he said.
Moyes said that Rooney, in meetings between the pair, had already told him he wanted to play as a central striker. "He wants to be a goal-scorer," he said adding that it was a "challenge" to work with Rooney "and see whether we can get him back to the level he was at".
Moyes is, however, in the market to improve United's midfield options – ideally adding a goal-scoring midfielder and a creative midfielder – but it is understood that the club are not planning to improve their offer of £12? million for Everton left-back Leighton Baines.
Interestingly even if Baines is signed Moyes will retain Patrice Evra who has been the club's first-choice left-back for seven years.
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