Solskjaer to stay or go? Pundits including Ince and Neville, fans and SunSport writers have their say on sacking the Man Utd manager

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has overseen a catastrophic start to the season for Manchester United, but the footballing world is divided on whether he should be sacked or given more time.

His odds on getting the axe grow shorter by the match and the Norwegian boss looks more defeated with every failure.

The latest set-back was a defeat by Newcastle that left the club just two points off the relegation zone after eight games.

And with their first game back after the international break against bitter rivals Liverpool, things look more likely to get worse before they have any hope of getting better.

As we revealed today, he will be sacked if United lose to Liverpool and are then beaten at Norwich on October 27.

So is now the time for Ed Woodward to fire Solskjaer?

Fans, pundits and SunSport’s experts have their say…

THE FANS

WE asked SunSport readers if it was time to pull the trigger.

A whopping 65 per cent of the 4,400 fans polled answered: "Yes, he’s way out of his depth and the club are going backwards."

That left 35 per cent saying: "No way, give him time, he’s only been there since March."

SUNSPORT EXPERTS

Neil Custis, Manchester United correspondent — STAY

I SAY stay because where would they go next?

Can they afford to chop and change again with the club already in a precarious position.

Can they afford not to, you might say?

But Solskjaer has been told that there has been a change in direction at the club bringing through players from the academy and making hungry young signings.

He is doing both.

Unless they want to scrap that plan and start again, again, they have to stick with him and hope.

But whether he is young, old or from the academy or not, they have to get a top class striker in the New Year or they are doomed.

Charlie Wyett, Football Editor — SACK

THEY should sack Solskjaer - but only if they can get the right man.

The obvious choice is Mauricio Pochettino even though it will cost them.

Neil Ashton, Chief Football Reporter – STAY

HE scored the winner in the 1999 Champions League final and you just don’t take a decision to get rid of a guy like that lightly.

Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter - SACK

SOMETHING is rotten at United, irredeemably and irretrievably.

Solskjaer is a decent man.

But even from a distance it was abundantly clear that the uptick in United's performances when he initially took the job was a response to Jose Mourinho's departure far more than a consequence of the Norwegian's arrival.

Ever since he was given the job full-time, United's form has fallen off a cliff. If he stays, gravity will continue that pull into the abyss.

THE PUNDITS

Paul Ince, ex-Man Utd midfielder – SACK

He told Paddy Power: “I feel that Ole is a very lucky man to have got the job in the first place, the board didn’t do their research, and now they’ve got a big call to make.

“I want Ole to do well, because I want the club to do well, but all he keeps saying is ‘we’re working hard’, but what on? We’ve seen no improvements in the team.”

Gary Neville, Man Utd legend - STAY

NEVILLE wrote on Twitter: "I’ve been very supportive of all MU managers.

"He inherited a shambles with a disastrous culture.

"He’s had to rip it up and is suffering for that now.