United should be above hasty sackings

Former Manchester United star Gary Neville feels his former club should stand apart from the culture of firing managers when things don’t go well immediately.

United are set to sack embattled boss David Moyes after less than a season in charge, a decision that has angered Sky Sports pundit Neville.

Neville said: “I’ve been associated with the club for 30 years and that’s what I’ve always believed. I genuinely believe that when you give a man a six-year contract that he deserves an opportunity and the time.

“Football is a world of madness.

“The average manager gets sacked every 12 months and I’ve always felt Manchester United should be different, hold themselves up as a club that basically stands against what’s happening in the game.

“We used to laugh at Italy 20 years ago and say it’s ridiculous what’s happening there. Now we’ve almost become accustomed to it.”

Sunday’s dismal 2-0 defeat to Everton, the club Moyes left last summer, confirmed that United will not qualify for next season’s Champions League and Neville admitted it was the latest in a string of “unacceptable” displays this term.

He said: “It was a poor performance and some of the performances this season have been shocking I have to say; well below the acceptable levels, totally unacceptable. It’s not doing David Moyes any favours.”