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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Erik ten Hag succession plan compared to 'replacing a BMW'

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Erik ten Hag (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Erik ten Hag (Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been told any potential replacement for Erik ten Hag must be an upgrade, with his Manchester United future uncertain.

Ratcliffe has taken control of football operations after purchasing a minority stake in the club and it has been rumoured he may decide to sack Ten Hag at the end of the season, with United currently 11 points off the top four.

And former United striker Andy Cole has weighed in on the speculation over Ten Hag's future, warning that "whoever they bring in must be better than what they currently have". "I can't mention anything about his future because I'm like everybody else," Cole told Betfred.

"If Erik ten Hag has a good run between now and the end of the season, and Manchester United start playing some good football, everyone will turn around and say that he deserves another chance. If he doesn't, everyone will be saying he deserves to be sacked.

"It's not for me to decide whether he should be sacked or stay in the job, that's not down to me. If Manchester United make the decision to move him on, just like when bringing in new players, whoever they bring in must be better than what they currently have.

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"It's like trading in your car – you trade in your car to get a better car otherwise there's no point in trading in your car in the first place. You've got to be logical about things. If you have a BMW for example, and you want to trade in your car, and you decide you want to get a Skoda, that's not an upgrade is it? That's a downgrade."

England boss Gareth Southgate is Ratcliffe's No.1 choice to replace Ten Hag if he decides to sack the Dutchman, but Cole is not convinced he is the right man for the job. "I think everybody would have reservations about him, not just because of the job he did at Middlesbrough, but what he’s done with England too," he explained.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Erik ten Hag succession plan compared to 'replacing a BMW'Andy Cole has spoken out about Ten Hag's future (Getty Images)

"What's he done with England that makes him credible enough to manage Manchester United? Those questions will be asked if Manchester United decide to change their manager.

"If they part ways with Erik ten Hag in the near future, then the decision they have to make regarding their next appointment has to be the right one. If Manchester United want to be challenging in the next three years, then any potential manager they choose has to be spot on."

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Matthew Cooper

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