Man Utd left in turmoil just a month before pre-season tour as Erik ten Hag casts doubt over his future

MANCHESTER UNITED are in turmoil a month before their first pre-season game.

Erik ten Hag has publicly criticised the club's new part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for his lack of experience in dealing with the managerial situation.

He has also questioned whether there will be a swift resolution to the offer of a contract extension now he has been asked to stay.

Ten Hag rocked the club hierarchy in a Dutch TV interview this weekend in which he revealed the haphazard way they told him that he was still in a job.

The 54-year-old was shocked to be visited while on holiday in Ibiza and even more surprised when the club officials admitted that they had interviewed Thomas Tuchel for his job.

Ten Hag's revelations have exposed significant fault lines between him and 27.7 per cent United part-owner Ratcliffe.

Ten Hag said: “Manchester United disturbed my holiday, they suddenly stood at my doorstep.

“They have indeed told me that they have spoken to other managers. That is not even allowed in the Netherlands. Then, it is forbidden to talk to other coaches if there is still a trainer.

“Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager."

SunSport revealed last week that the new hierarchy, which includes Sir David Brailsford, even contacted a senior figure at another club about how to find a new boss.

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Ten Hag said: “The new leadership is playing football for the first time."

United’s pre-season begins on July 15th with a friendly away to Rosenberg in Trondheim, Norway. Five days later, they travel to Hampden Park, Glasgow, to face Rangers.

The following week, they embark on a US Tour.

The club would like to have Ten Hag tied to a new three-year contract before then.

But he has openly admitted that committing himself to the club for that long is not going to be straightforward.

Ten Hag said: “Manchester United and I still have to find an agreement for the new contract.

“This isn't easily done, we are still going to have to talk about this.

"We have had good discussions with each other, various topics have been discussed."

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United had planned to sack Ten Hag at the end of the season, but things changed when the manager outfoxed Pep Guardiola to beat Manchester City and win the FA Cup.

That triumph brought a wave of support from the United fan base, despite a worst ever eighth place Premier League finish.

Ratcliffe was obviously rattled by this and bought himself time by claiming a review of the season was needed.

In the interim he could not find a manager suitable to take over from Ten Hag, or one who wanted to.

The lack of clarity over the manager’s position regarding a new contract will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect on new signings until it is resolved.