• Premier League

Moyes was warned of difficulties

Rene Meulensteen left as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant last summer © PA Photos

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Rene Meulensteen warned David Moyes of the difficulties of stepping up from Everton to take charge of Manchester United.

Meulensteen, who left his role as assistant manager at United last summer, told Sir Alex Ferguson's successor that his new club were at a different level to the one he had spent more than a decade at.

"Maybe in hindsight David probably underestimated the magnitude of the position," Meulensteen told CNN. "I tried to explain to David that it would be like going from steering a yacht to a cruise liner."

Moyes' sacking was confirmed by United on Tuesday morning but the club have been criticised for the way they handled the situation, with news of his impending dismissal emerging on Monday and reports suggesting players were unhappy with his style of management before the 2-0 loss to Everton on Sunday.

Ryan Giggs has been appointed as interim manager in his place until the end of the season, with Paul Scholes assisting the Welshman.

Louis van Gaal and Carlo Ancelotti are the firm favourites to take over at United and, if Giggs is overlooked, Roy Keane could be named as an assistant, according to reports in Ireland, with the club wanting a former player to help manage the first team.

Keane is the Republic of Ireland's assistant manager to but Martin O'Neill, who is in charge of the country's side, says he knows nothing about suggestions.

"I don't know anything about it, I really don't," O'Neill told the Irish Independent. O'Neill recruited Keane, who has managed both Sunderland and Ipswich, as his No.2 in November 2013.

Keane played for United between 1993 and 2005, becoming captain after Eric Cantona's retirement in 1997.

However, his return to Old Trafford would be controversial, given his fractious relationship with Ferguson, who is a member of the board and is expected to play a part in the recruitment process.

Ferguson launched an attack on Keane in his 2013 autobiography, writing: "The hardest part of Roy's body is his tongue."

Keane, who has been a rare former United player to criticise Ferguson publicly, said in 2008: "People say Ferguson always does what is right for Man United. I don't think he does. I think he does what is right for him."

The 42-year-old, who could form a fearsome partnership with Van Gaal, said on Tuesday that United's squad and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward should share the blame for Moyes' failure. He said on ITV: "He certainly had a hard start but I'd look at the chief executive, he didn't get the deals done.

"I think it's a shame, he should have been given more time. Some of the players should be ashamed of themselves, they really let him down."

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