Louis van Gaal front-runner for Man United job, says Ron Atkinson

Ron Atkinson believes Louis van Gaal is the front-runner for the Manchester United job after David Moyes was sacked by the Red Devils.

Moyes was axed less than a year into his six-year contract after suffering a 2-0 loss at Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.

I think of the people available, he would probably be the front runner

Louis van Gaal

50-year-old Moyes leaves United in seventh position and without Champions League football at Old Trafford next season.

Despite admitting Van Gaal’s unavailability until after the World Cup being a potential stumbling block, Atkinson tipped the Netherlands head coach for the post.

“Would Manchester United be happy with someone spending their whole summer out there (at the World Cup) when everyone knows they need to get players? That might just be a slight snag,” Atkinson told Fubar Radio.

He added: “I think of the people available, he would probably be the front runner.”

Atkinson, who was the last manager to be sacked by United before Moyes’s axe on Tuesday, believes the Scot is a very good manager.

“Moyes is a good football manager,” Atkinson added.

“He’s proven it at Preston and at Everton. I think he would have been very surprised at the interest and the intensity at Manchester United.

“Not just from Manchester but all over the world. Although Everton is a very big club that would have surprised him a lot.”

To listen to the interview in full, click here.