According to Peter Hall, a freelance journalist who contributes to a number of leading British media outlets, the issue of Manchester United manager Jens Ten Hagar's reign will be formally discussed by the club's hierarchy on Tuesday. The meeting comes against the backdrop of United earning just eight points from their opening seven Premier League games, setting a new record for the worst start to a season in the Premier League era, a mark even lower than the nine points achieved by Ten Hagar himself at the start of the 2023/24 season.
In response to this crisis, Joel Glazer, the majority shareholder of Manchester United, has flown to London from Florida, where he will meet with United's senior management team to focus on issues related to soccer operations. Thanks to the international match day break, the club's key figures have been able to free up their time to attend the meeting.
Although Ten Hagar has not been informed that his position is under direct threat at the moment, according to Peter Hall, an early decision could be made by United's soccer committee (which includes Glazer, Sir Ratcliffe and Inglis Group sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford) after making contact with a number of candidate managers over the summer, including Tuchel, Southgate and Thomas Frank. However, Ten Hagar himself remains convinced that his position is safe for now and has arranged a vacation.
The senior staff attending the conference will also include sporting director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Omar Berrada, technical director Wilcox, chief operating officer Colette Roach and chief financial officer Roger Bell. They will be joined by Sir Ratcliffe, Sir Brailsford and Glazer to discuss their findings and the future development of soccer operations.
It's worth noting that Sir Ratcliffe's appearance at Old Trafford with Glazer on Monday sparked rumors online of major changes at United. But sources close to the situation say it was a "long-planned" visit for a series of talks, with the redevelopment of Old Trafford one of the key topics discussed.
Although Ten Hagar has had "more regular communication" with the hierarchy and insisted on that when he signed his new contract in the summer, the current situation is very different to what it was a few months ago. At the time, United decided to give Ten Hagar more time after last season's FA Cup final win over Manchester City, and Dan Ashworth and Omar Berarda had only just started in their new roles. However, United's poor record now puts Ten Hagar's position in question once again.
There is still controversy over who will replace Ten Hagar at the helm at Old Trafford. Senior figures at the Inrix Group are thought to prefer Southgate, while Tuchel also had a meeting with Sir Ratcliffe in the summer. Van Nistelrooy is also thought to be another viable option, possibly even on a temporary basis. Van Nistelrooy was a notable presence on the coaching staff after United's draw with Porto last Thursday, shaking hands with every player and receiving a lengthy ovation from the travelling fans.
