Sources: Man United could now appoint permanent manager ‘within weeks’
Darren Fletcher could force Manchester United into making a permanent appointment before the end of the season, sources have told Football Insider.
The Scot has been placed in interim charge of the team after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on Monday, and the current plan is for him to remain at the helm until next summer.
However, sources have now indicated to Football Insider that the 41-year-old could force the board into sealing a permanent appointment much sooner than that, if he struggles in his early weeks in the role.
United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table ahead of their midweek trip to Burnley in Fletcher’s first assignment, with victory at Turf Moor potentially enough to lift them into the Champions League places.
Darren Fletcher has a promising managerial record in youth football
Amorim’s dismissal at Manchester United comes in the aftermath of some surprising comments that he made following his team’s 1-1 draw away at Leeds on Sunday.
The Portuguese showed his discontent with the current situation behind the scenes at the club, and insisted that he saw himself as the manager rather than the head coach.
Amorim’s statements ultimately made his position untenable in the eyes of the club hierarchy, who have now handed Fletcher the opportunity to show his credentials in a senior managerial role.
The former midfielder has previously held roles as both a first-team coach and as technical director at Old Trafford, before he was named as the new U18s manager last summer.
| Games | W | D | L | GD | Win % |
| 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | +20 | 57.14% |
Fletcher has since enjoyed a bright start to life in charge of the academy side, as he has them flying high in the U18 Premier League, with his team sitting second after 14 games of their season.
Results are far from the most important aspect of youth football, but Fletcher’s win percentage of over 57 per cent so far this term is clearly admired at the top of the club.
Manchester United face alarming run of fixtures
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown has backed Fletcher to have a positive impact on the team during his time in charge, but he faces some difficult tests in his opening games at the helm.
While Wednesday’s clash with Burnley and next weekend’s FA Cup meeting with Brighton are certainly favourable fixtures, that pair of games is followed by huge matches against Manchester City and Arsenal.
With the daunting prospect of the top two sides in the Premier League on the horizon in the second half of January, the pressure will be on Fletcher to secure positive results from his opening two games.
If he fails to do so, and United endure struggles against Manchester City and Arsenal, then the board may have to ready their contingency plans quicker than expected.