(Sky Sports) – David Moyes’ short time as Manchester United manager is over.
Moyes has been sacked less than one season into the six-year deal he signed on replacing Sir Alex Ferguson last summer.
United confirmed the Scot’s departure on their Twitter feed at around 8:30am on Tuesday, although reports of his imminent exit had been circulating for almost 24 hours amid silence from the club.
A short statement thanked Moyes for “the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role” during his time in charge.
The Press Association reported soon afterwards that Ryan Giggs will be named interim manager later on Tuesday.
Moyes inherited a side that won the Premier League by 11 points and leaves them seventh in the table, already certain to miss out on Champions League football next season.
United are also guaranteed their lowest points total in the Premier League era, and Sunday’s comprehensive defeat at Everton – the club Moyes left for Old Trafford – was a final humiliation.
Moyes took just six points from 12 games against the six teams above United in the table, but as recently as Sunday he appeared confident he would be given time and money to reshape the club’s playing squad.
Moyes did sanction deals worth more than £60m for Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata, but the task of spending a summer transfer fund reported to be in the region of £150m will now fall to his successor.
The decision – and the way it appeared in the media – has been criticised by United great Gary Neville, who told Sky Sports News: “I believe in managers being given time. I think they should be allowed to complete their work.
“The idea of giving people three and four and six-year contracts and then getting rid of them after 10 months is something that’s foreign to me.
“However, there’s no disguising that the football this season has been poor.
The results have been poor. As a fan I’ve not enjoyed watching it. I’m sure David Moyes himself hasn’t enjoyed watching it and I can’t think of many Man United fans who would have enjoyed watching it either.”
Neville also said United’s players should bear significant blame for this season’s poor form, while Sean Bones of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust pointed the finger at the club’s owners.
Bones said: “This has been done without class and dignity. It’s wrong to brief journalists before speaking to the man himself.
“It was a risky decision in the first place to appoint Moyes because he wasn’t proven at the highest level – that decision is down to the Glazer family.
“It’s a results-based industry, but it’s not been done in the right way and the Glazers haven’t invested in the club at the right time.”