Gary Neville has described Manchester United's handling of Michael Carrick's sacking as "disgusting", saying the club's leadership has been left looking poor.
United dismissed the 45-year-old on Thursday morning after a poor start to the season. The team sit in the Premier League relegation zone with just one win from their opening 10 games, their worst start in four decades.
Neville's scathing assessment
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville criticised the club's decision-making and the conduct of senior figures. He said: "I think after the Bournemouth game I said at the time that Manchester United effectively watched Michael Carrick resign on the pitch at the end of the game with that lap around, that wave goodbye.
"I think he was expecting it to come at that point and they were indecisive. They obviously felt that they might be able to get to the international break and there could be some sort of pick-up in results, but it's been a difficult two weeks. Indecision, lack of authority, just basically really poor leadership."
Monaco meeting and Pochettino talks
The decision followed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's attendance at a senior meeting in Monaco, where Carrick's future was discussed with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. Carrick oversaw training at Carrington while awaiting news of his fate.
United are believed to have secured an agreement in principle to appoint Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday, while Carrick remained at the club. Neville added: "In the last 24 to 48 hours, it's been spectacularly bad to be in Monaco as an executive and an owner whilst your manager, who is a club legend, is taking training on the pitch and simultaneously approaching the US Soccer Federation to approach Mauricio Pochettino.
"It's just quite simply disgusting. That falls well below the standard of what you would expect in any other business, in any other industry. It would be constructive dismissal and you'd be getting sued."
Pochettino's delayed start
Pochettino is not expected to begin work at Old Trafford until next week, as he is preparing the USA for their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final double-header against Haiti. The first leg takes place in Miami on Saturday, 14 November, with the second leg in Cincinnati on Wednesday, 18 November.
