Michael Carrick drove into Manchester United's Carrington training ground on Monday afternoon as the club's hierarchy prepared to decide his future, with talks expected to take place over the coming hours.
Even before Sunday's loss at Bournemouth, Carrick had presided over the club's worst start to a season in 40 years, but things went from bad to worse as United were outclassed by the Cherries, who picked up another 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Rapid decline after last season's success
The defeat came in the same week that Carrick saw United beaten 4-1 in Como, before Bruno Fernandes took aim at his tactics. At full-time on Sunday, the United boss appeared to do a lap of the pitch that had all the hallmarks of a farewell.
He was cheered by the home fans, who sang his name throughout, before turning on the players, who were jeered off. Carrick's demise has been rapid given the success he had last season, but the current run of results cannot continue.
Decision makers and potential successors
United are languishing down in 16th, and Carrick confessed that he would accept whatever was best for the club, where he was a serial winner as a player.
He said: "Listen, it's a tough situation. There's no hiding from it. What it looks like, what's next, I really don't know. But I'll always do what's best for this football club. I've said it all along. I don't change that now. I love what I do, I love the position I'm in and I feel the responsibility, but we'll have to wait and see."
United chiefs Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, who have copped the brunt of the anger and frustration for the club's poor start to the season, will be making the decision alongside co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the axe potentially coming down on Monday.
Sky Sports reports that United's bosses were already considering alternatives for the head coach role even before the defeat to Bournemouth, and now former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, who left Germany in the summer, are the two frontrunners.
Gary Neville said after Sunday's defeat: "They are probably going to sack him. Tomorrow (today), they will probably make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans but it is probably necessary."
Since Ratcliffe came in to reshape the club, he has already sacked Erik ten Hag and got rid of Ruben Amorim, who lasted just over a year, with their decision making heavily called into question.
