David Moyes facing the sack at Manchester United

By: Jamie Jackson/The Guardian

David Moyes is facing the sack as Manchester United's manager with the owners, the Glazer family, and Ed Woodward, the vice-president, in discussions over when to end the Scot's reign.

United's 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday was the latest evidence to the executive that Moyes is the wrong man to lead the club and it is now only a matter of time before the decision is taken. Should he go before the end of the season, which appears likely, United may put Ryan Giggs in temporary charge. The 40-year-old, who is player-coach, would command the instant respect of the squad and would consider taking up the role, even if only temporary.

Moyes has been under scrutiny since last month following the 3-0 loss to Liverpool. The chief concern for the board is how badly the side have played throughout the season, with little sign of improvement. Questions are now being asked at the highest level about whether he can be trusted to carry out a £150m rebuild in the summer.

The club are intent on reshaping the squad in the close season and the discussions between Woodward and the Glazers centre on whether a new manager should be brought in to drive the process.

When replacing Sir Alex Ferguson last summer Moyes signed a six-year contract, with the club determined that stability was the best policy following Ferguson's 26 years in charge. That policy is now in ruins, with deliberations already beginning over who should succeed Moyes.

Borussia Dortmund's Jürgen Klopp, Diego Simeone of Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain's Laurent Blanc and the Holland coach, Louis van Gaal, will all be discussed as the next potential permanent United manager. Everton's Roberto Martínez, who has excelled in Moyes' old job, would be an outside choice.