Manchester United boss David Moyes is on the verge of being sacked[ACTION]After a miserable tenure in charge of the current league champions, culminating in being beaten by his old club Everton 2-0 on Saturday, the man the United fans had dubbed "the chosen one" was summarily being unchosen.
While not yet officially confirmed by the club, it is understood that Moyes - under whose management United have slipped to seventh place in the Premier League - will depart Old Trafford in a matter of days. He is not expected to be in charge for the team's game against Norwich City next weekend.
The six-year contract he signed less than 12 months ago is no longer worth the paper it was penned on.
But the decision to dispense with Moyes' services will come as a huge embarrassment to the club, who only appointed the Scot on the recommendation of outgoing manager Sir Alex Ferguson last Summer.
One insider said: "Results simply haven't been good enough. He has lost twice to local rivals Manchester City, and also lost home and away to Liverpool. But it has been the manner of the 15 defeats this season. The team has seemed lacklustre and not prepared to play for the manager. And for a club with the record of Manchester United, that is simply not acceptable."
David Moyes has endured a torrid season in charge of Manchester United [AP]The team has seemed lacklustre and not prepared to play for the manager. And for a club with the record of Manchester United, that is simply not acceptable
Insiders said the loss to Everton - the second to his old club this season - was "the final straw" for a man who many commentators said has looked out of his depth in such an enormous job.
On Saturday, one Everton fan even stood behind Moyes in the crowd sporting a grim reaper's outfit, full with blow-up scythe. While the fan was removed from the ground by stewards, it would appear that his sentiment with relation to Moyes' employment was spot on.
Just 24 hours laters, rumours began swirling around Manchester that the biggest job in English football would soon once again be coming up for grabs.
It is understood that the American owners of the club, the Glazer family, had finally run out of patience with Moyes.
The 50-year-old Glaswegian has increasingly lost the goodwill of the fans, while reports of rifts with senior players within the team have also become a daily occurrence.
Who now takes the reins was last night a matter of fierce speculation, with some saying Sir Alex would return temporarily to get the club back onto an even keel. Others suggested veteran United player Ryan Giggs would be made first team coach, with a new full-time manager brought in at the end of the season.
But for Moyes, the sacking ends a horrific year, which began when he was out shopping with his wife Pamela last April.
It was during this trip that the then Everton boss unexpectedly received a telephone call from Sir Alex.
David Moyes has suffered 15 losses during his time at Manchester United [ACTION]"Where are you?” said Sir Alex.
"I’m out with my wife,” Moyes replied.
"Can you drop over to the house?" said Sir Alex.
Moyes told his wife: “It’s either he wants me to take somebody on loan, or he’s come to buy one of my players.”
But on his arrival at his home, Sir Alex told him: "I’m retiring. Next week. You’re the next Man United manager.”
"So I didn’t get the chance to say yes or no," Moyes later said.
"As you can imagine, the blood drained from my face."
However, from the start Moyes' reign was dogged by difficulties and it quickly became apparent that the squad he had inherited was in serious decline.
What followed were the least successful nine months of results from a Manchester United side in more than 20 years, leaving the club plummeting down the table to seventh position.
As the team coach departed Everton after yet another defeat on Sunday, it quickly passed Anfield - the home to fierce rivals Liverpool, who are now firm favourites to lift this year's premier league trophy.
It would appear that this was one fact that has simply proven a disappointment too far for the fans, the owners and the board of Manchester United Plc.
DAVID MOYES AT MANCHESTER UNITED
Played 51
Won 27
Drawn 9
Lost 15
Win percentage 52.94
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