Sir Alex Ferguson was involved in the decision to sack David Moyes as manager of Manchester United

SIR Alex Ferguson developed doubts about David Moyes as long as two months, realising he made a mistake, and he was involved with the final call.

SIR ALEX Ferguson played a  pivotal role in the decision to sack David Moyes as manager of Manchester United.

Less than a year after choosing Moyes as his successor, the former United boss was one of a group of directors who sealed his fate in a  Manchester hotel on Sunday night.

Moyes was officially dismissed in person by United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward at 7.40am yesterday at the club’s Carrington training ground.

United then released a statement saying: ‘David Moyes has left the club.

The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.’

Ryan Giggs has been put in charge of team affairs until the end of the season but is not a candidate for the job.

Nor has the Welshman been assured of a place in the coaching set-up under whoever does come in.

News_Rich_Media: Manchester United have confirmed the sacking of manager David Moyes, effective immediately. Fox Sports football correspondent Daniel Garb discusses the decision and what the future holds for the club.

The news that Ferguson had given up on Moyes so early will shock United fans.

It is understood Sir Alex had developed doubts about his successor as long as two months ago, realising he had made a big mistake.

Ferguson, along with Woodward, former chief executive David Gill and United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, decided on Sunday night to get rid of Moyes before the end of the season, as had initially been planned.

Giggs is viewed by the club as a United  manager of the future and hope Moyes’s  successor decides to keep him on.

They also hope to find a place in the overall structure for another favoured son, Paul Scholes.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal remains favourite to take charge but United also plan to sound out Carlo Ancelotti, who is becoming unsettled at Real Madrid, and would be prepared to spend heavily to prise him away from one of their great European rivals.

United feel an opportunity may arise with the former Chelsea coach in the weeks to come, especially if Real go out of the Champions League.

News_Rich_Media: Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson says that while Ryan Giggs might not be the man to replace sacked manager David Moyes full time straight away, he has great potential to be a successful manager in years to come.

Some United players have already expressed reservations about Van Gaal but the club do not intend to take advice from within the first team. United denied reports of a meeting with the Dutchman in Switzerland but Sportsmail understands an approach was made when the Old Trafford hierarchy learned Van Gaal was close to agreeing terms with Spurs.

A leading Dutch newspaper claimed the meeting took place 11 or 12 days ago, with Woodward and a member of the Glazer family in attendance.

News_Rich_Media: Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes the club had no choice but to let go of under fire manager Mark Bosnich and believes Sir Alex Ferguson must be held accountable for appointing his own successor.

United say that meeting, which followed their Champions League defeat in Munich, was with adidas to discuss kit sponsorship.

But Van Gaal does have a Swiss adviser and always conducts his most important meetings in that country, having already met Spurs chairman Daniel Levy there.

The 62-year-old is believed to be on holiday on Portugal’s Algarve coast, considering the three offers he has been made.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is not a candidate, while Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and former United defender Laurent Blanc, now at PSG, are not in the running.

It is feared that Klopp could be too similar to Moyes — brilliant with limited resources but lacking the skills required by an elite club. Another possible candidate, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, lacks both experience and a grasp of English.

Van Gaal, however, is available after the World Cup and is regarded as someone with the right personality as well as the stature required to occupy the role. The one complication could be United’s desire to announce before the World Cup that he is their man. That, of course, would have to be agreeable to the Dutch FA.

News_Rich_Media: Manchester United fans have given their verdict on the dismissal of manager David Moyes, almost unanimous in suggesting he wasn't the right man for the job.

Moyes has told friends he wants another job as quickly as possible and last night United legend Roy Keane accused United officials and players of letting him down.

Former captain Keane said: ‘The chief executive didn’t get the deals done in the summer, there was a lot of negativity, a slow start and no momentum.

‘He should’ve been given more time. Some players at Manchester United should be ashamed of themselves — they really let him down.

‘You can’t be critical of Sir Alex. It wasn’t necessarily his pick, he put his name forward but the club made the decision.’

Additional reporting: Sam Cunningham

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