'Act now on gamble that's not paid off'

IF Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy are not devising a succession plan for Ruben Amorim, then they are burying their heads in the sand and doing the club a disservice.

- By DAVID MCDONNELL

United chief executive Omar Berrada and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe

In simple terms, the gamble on Amorim has failed spectacularly and the time has come to accept that reality, however uncomfortable and embarrassing, end his ill-fated tenure and appoint a replacement head coach who can steer the club out of their current crisis.

Amorim’s nine wins from 33 Premier League games and an equally lamentable haul of 34 points from a possible 99 is indefensible and there are no clear signs that the situation is improving, as evidenced by Saturday’s meek 3-1 capitulation at Brentford.

The Reds have seven points from 18 this season and have lost three times already - Erik ten Hag was sacked after four defeats in nine last term, and Amorim is heading the same way.

Amorim has failed to win back-to-back league games after nearly a year in charge, something even the doomed David Moyes managed in his ill-fated spell in charge and United have regressed under the 40-year-old Portuguese head coach.