If we put the decision to remove Sterling from the squad down to the board, we take away credit from Maresca. I am sure it was Maresca that decided he did not want to work with Sterling because he did not work hard enough and put in the effort Maresca wanted. He deserves some credit for that.
On paper it looks like he singlehandedly made that decision but in reality, it was the board decision to take off every player( Sterling and Chilwell) above the new wage structure out of the project. Sterling only made it easy with bad performance after all the chances he had in preseason.
The new wage structure can not accommodate both players and the management are not ready to adjust. He may likely follow money to Saudi except he's willing to take a pay cut in Europe.