It might surprise some people that Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United, who actually hand-picked David Moyes to replace him,  returned from Boston, where he had been at Harvard University, to attend a board meeting called in the wake of United’s woeful, and latest defeat of a miserable season at Goodison Park on Sunday. It was revealed he had a signing on the papers that sacked Moyes on Tuesday morning.
 
David Moyes was given his marching orders by Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward after holding crisis talks at the training ground. Moyes met Woodward at Carrington long before the players were expected to report to training. The pair talked things through and it was then that Moyes learnt he would be axed.

United followed that by releasing a 33-word statement on their website confirming his departure at 8.30am.

It read: “Manchester United has announced that David Moyes has left the Club. The Club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.”

Ryan Giggs will take charge as caretaker until the end of the season.


It is understood United want to appoint someone with greater and proven European experience and have put Louis Van Gaal, Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone on a three-man shortlist.