Ed Woodward reluctant to axe Solskjaer ‘as it would be damning final failure’

Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward is reportedly reluctant to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager because it would be a damning final failure for his time at the club.

That is the view of a number of insiders at the club, the Daily Mail report, after Solskjaer remained in his role following last weekend's 5-0 home loss to Liverpool.

This defeat was the latest in series of disappointing results already this season and had been understood to be the final nail in the coffin for Solskjaer.

However, the Norwegian remains in the job and eased the pressure on him with a 3-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Insiders at the club reportedly believe that Woodward has been reluctant to sack Solskjaer despite United's poor form and calls for him to go from some sections of the fan base.

This reluctance is understood to be due to Woodward's fears that dismissing Solskjaer would leave a damning final statement on his time as United vice-chairman.

Woodward is set to step down from his role when his current contract expires at the end of this year after eight years at the club.

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His decision to leave the club was announced earlier this year shortly after the European Super League debacle but was said to not have been affected by the backlash the club received.

Since being appointed in 2013, Woodward has already sacked three different United managers as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all departed the dugout.

Therefore, many at the club are believed to think he wants to avoid leaving the club off the back of dismissing another unsuccessful manager.

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Solskjaer alleviated some of the pressure on him as United stormed to a comfortable 3-0 win over Spurs on Saturday, in what proved to be Nuno Espirito Santo's final match in charge.

The result leaves United in fifth place in the table and now just three points off third place Manchester City after their loss to Crystal Palace.

United will face the reigning champions in the Manchester Derby on Saturday, but first travel to Italy to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

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