Overview
- Manchester United have told staff they will not sack Michael Carrick during the international break and expect to give him a chance to improve results once club football resumes.
- United have won only two of their first seven games and sit 12th in the Premier League, a poor start that has intensified scrutiny of Carrick after his promotion to head coach in May.
- Club chiefs are quietly drawing up succession options with Fabian Hurzeler and Kieran McKenna among the top targets, but no immediate approach has been made.
- Any midseason switch would be costly because Carrick’s exit would carry a multi‑million pound payout and Brighton have tied Hurzeler to a contract to 2029 that insiders say could demand roughly £10–15m in compensation.
- Pundits and some insiders urge patience given Carrick’s strong interim spell last season, while the board’s caution reflects recent expensive managerial turnover under INEOS and a run of October fixtures that will shape his short‑term future.