Football

Manchester United hope to appoint the Everton manager David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor by the end of the week, The Independent has learned.

The 50-year-old is out of contract in the summer and he is the first choice to take over from Ferguson, whose retirement after 27 years was announced this morning. Today had long been planned by the club as the day upon which Ferguson would announce he was stepping down although news of the announcement emerged on Tuesday night.

Senior sources at the club say there is no prospect of the club appointing Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, whom they are now convinced is already heading back to Chelsea with a deal in place. Ferguson will not hold his Friday press conference at the Carrington training centre ahead of Sunday’s game against Swansea at Old Trafford, his last home game.

The succession plan at the club is that there will not be major changes to the playing staff. There will also be no compensation payable to Everton for Moyes who has delayed signing a new deal in order, he has said in the past, to explore his options. An announcement on his future could be made as early as tomorrow.

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