Ruud van Nistelrooy may have won three out of four games as interim boss – but he should still be shown the door at Manchester United.
That’s the view of ex-Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who has stated that incoming manager Ruben Amorim should kick him to the curb.
Amorim is set to take charge at Old Trafford following the sacking of Erik ten Hag last month.
While his start date has been pushed back due to work permit issues, the 39-year-old, who has achieved huge success with Sporting Lisbon, is already looking ahead to his first match against Ipswich on November 24.
But there is a major question as to whether he keeps Van Nistelrooy on following his unbeaten run at the helm since temporarily taking over.
However, talkSPORT co-host Pardew thinks Amorim should clear out the old staff and bring in his own as he backed the Portuguese to deliver success.
Speaking on Final Word with Maj and Pards following United’s 3-0 win over Leicester, he said: “It’s definitely a tricky one.
“If I was coming in with that Sporting Lisbon record and the expectation and contract that I have in Amorim, I would be slightly concerned whether to keep him [Van Nistelrooy] at the club.
“The reason being, is that I wouldn’t want a mini-manager there, he’s obviously had the role for four games, the players have trusted him, ‘If things go badly for me, are the players going to start indulging with him?’
“So I think it’s a difficult one, obviously if you ask any Man United fan tonight, they would be absolutely shocked if he wasn’t kept on.
“But I actually wouldn’t be shocked if the manager decided that he’s not in his team.”
He added: “For the new manager, he’ll want his staff, he trusts his staff, he knows how they work.
“They’all come in, they’ve [United] paid the compensation, where would Ruud fit in that actually?
“I don’t think Ruud would want to be a spare part in that coaching room, ‘What am I doing gaffer? What do you want me to do gaffer today?’, ‘Well can you do this, do that.’
“And it becomes very awkward.”
But while Pardew has advised Amorim to allow Van Nistelrooy’s departure, the manager himself has hinted the Dutchman could stay on.
He said after Sporting’s win against Braga on Sunday: “He is a legend of the club. He did a great job. I have to talk with him tomorrow.
“Then I will explain everything. I am very clear and I will tell you like it is. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”
