Man United fans say they've become a laughing stock

 

David Moyes' departure was choreographed. Photo: PA

Manchester United have been accused of turning themselves into a laughing stock with their handling of David Moyes' departure.

Moyes' nine-month reign at Old Trafford came to an end on Tuesday when he was sacked following a meeting at 8am with vice-chairman Ed Woodward at Carrington.

The dismissal did not come as a surprise as many national media outlets reported on Monday afternoon that Moyes was to be dismissed.


Although many fans wanted Moyes out after such a woeful season, the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) believes it was wrong for the story to leak nearly 24 hours before an official announcement was made.

"It's a PR shambles," said MUST vice-chair Sean Bones.

"Manchester United's history shows they deal with things with class and dignity but that has not been the case here.

"The story leaked before David Moyes has been spoken to, and that's not the Manchester United way. There was no dignity or class in the way they went about it."

Although United fans never called for Moyes' head during games, it was clear that support for the manager was eroding with each of the 11 league defeats suffered by the club this term.

• Read: Man United sack Moyes

This banner might need to be take down. Credit: PA

• More: Giggs takes over

It was therefore no surprise that many chose to hail the news of his sacking when it was announced on the club's official Twitter feed.

Bones feels appointing Moyes was always going to be a gamble considering that the Scot's only previous experience came managing Everton and Preston.

"The appointment of David Moyes was seen by a lot of supporters as a risk," he said.

"Moyes wasn't proven at the very highest level, and Manchester United should be attracting the best and most proven managers in the world."

Ryan Giggs will take charge of the first team on a temporary basis but speculation has already begun about who United want as a long-term successor to Moyes.