Man Utd urged to appoint Championship manager as Ten Hag's replacement

Cameron Smith

30 Apr 2024 22:15 BST
2 min read

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United — © IMAGO

Alan Pardew has told Manchester United to appoint Coventry City manager Mark Robins as Erik ten Hag’s replacement this summer.

Article continues under the video

Ten Hag, 54, is under major pressure at Old Trafford and could be sacked once the 2023-24 season concludes.

FootballTransfers understands that INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been left unimpressed by the Dutchman’s recruitment since arriving from Ajax in 2022, while several names have been floated around as possible replacements.

Roberto De Zerbi, Gareth Southgate, Thomas Frank, Zinedine Zidane and Graham Potter have all been linked with succeeding Ten Hag at Old Trafford, with INEOS set to decide whether to sack the ex-Ajax boss this summer.

The Red Devils are currently sixth in the Premier League table, and are on course to qualify for the Europa League, although they are 13 points behind Aston Villa in fourth and have endured an inconsistent domestic campaign.

Mark Robins to Man Utd?

Pardew believes that Robins, who led Coventry to within inches of the FA Cup final after a valiant display against Man Utd in April, is the perfect candidate to replace Ten Hag.

The former Crystal Palace manager told TalkSPORT: “I have got a gaffer for you. Are you ready? He is not an international, he has not won the Dutch league, he has not won the French league, he is an old player of yours, he has done brilliant for four seasons, he almost beat you in the semi-final – Mark Robins.

“There you go. Get him in. He will do you a job, I tell you.”

Robins has done a fantastic job at Coventry since his appointment in March 2017, helping the club achieve promotions from League Two in 2018 and League One in 2020, before reaching the Championship Play-Off Final in 2023, where they suffered a cruel loss to Luton Town on penalties.