Erik ten Hag has backers in Manchester United’s new football hierarchy

Erik ten Hag won a second trophy in as many years on Saturday when Manchester United stunned Man City at Wembley.

The Dutchman was been under mounting pressure to keep his job at Old Trafford, with a number of factors going against him.

As the new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliife is keen for his Ineos team to influence the running of United as a football club. It remains to be seen if they will be patient with managers, including Ten Hag.

According to The Athletic, United’s hierarchy will conduct a season review before making an announcement on Ten Hag’s future. His future hangs in the balance.

In a well-sourced update from The Independent, we are fed information suggesting that Ten Hag still has prominent figures in the new United football hierarchy backing him.

The report adds that United officials have held talks with the camps of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank to be prepared for the event that Ten Hag is sacked.

Miguel Delaney reports: “There is an awareness among the INEOS hierarchy that sacking Ten Hag would be an unpopular decision among the fanbase, especially after Saturday’s victory over Manchester City. The club’s football figures do want to make a cold and holitic decision in the sophisiticated new manner they want to run the club, though, and much of the topics that will inform this week’s final review go beyond purely football results. While it would not be true to say the structure is ‘split’ on either Ten Hag’s fate or his potential replacement, it is more about the leadership fully thrashing out every aspect to take the most informed decision possible.”

The Independent understands that McKenna is likely to go to Brighton if he does leave Ipswich Town, where he has led the Premier League newcomers to back-to-back promotions.

Elsewhere, Delaney claims Sir Dave Brailsford is understood to be a vocal backer of England manager Gareth Southgate which does anything but fill me with confidence.

Any mention of Southgate should immediately disqualify Brailsford’s vote on the decision.