Ten Hag given 'one-month trial' to save Man Utd job as sack looms

Tom Weber

• Updated: 22 Apr 2024 14:26 CDT
• 4 min read

New Manchester United technical director Jason Wilcox has launched a one-month audit of Erik ten Hag's work, according to a report.

Pressure on the Dutchman is reaching fever pitch after Man Utd's embarrassing FA Cup semi-final outing against Championship side Coventry City. The catastrophic collapse - letting a 3-0 lead slip and only prevailing on penalties - and Antony's pathetic post-match antics laid bare everything that is wrong with Man Utd under Ten Hag.

The great disciplinarian who was supposed to fix the 'culture' at Old Trafford has achieved anything but the desired result and it is becoming evident that the 54-year-old is at the end of his wits. However, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS camp would prefer to not have to pull the trigger.

READ MORE: ‘Man Utd still have players I didn’t want!’ – Who is Jose Mourinho talking about?

Ten Hag would be due a sizeable compensation and there is a feeling that it would be difficult to land any of the managers liked by Man Utd's new recruitment team, which is still in the process of being formed. Sporting director Dan Ashworth, for example, is yet to officially join the club.

Ten Hag 'on trial'

One man who has already arrived at the club is new technical director Jason Wilcox. With Man Utd still in talks with Newcastle over Ashworth, the former Man City academy chief will lead the decision-making process regarding Ten Hag's future for now.

According to The Telegraph, Wilcox has launched an audit that will see Ten Hag essentially be on trial for the next month. The technical director will investigate Ten Hag's dressing room relations and keep a close eye on his work with the team before a final decision on his future will be made.

READ MORE: Ten Hag close to sack as Man Utd contact Champions League winner to step in

Wilcox will hold talks with players, the staff and Ten Hag himself to assess the manager's strengths and weaknesses and to determine why Man Utd have endured such a difficult season. The former Southampton sporting director's findings will then be examined by the club hierarchy and the subsequent course of action decided upon.

It is not out of the question that the Dutchman will be axed, but the report echoes that there is no standout candidate to succeed Ten Hag. It is thought that there would be a significant risk attached to appointing people such as Thiago Motta, Thomas Tuchel, Roberto de Zerbi or Ruben Amorim.