Gary Neville insists Manchester United must not fall into the trap of repeatedly sacking managers after the short-term failure of not making the top four.

David Moyes and Louis van Gaal were both given their marching orders after failing to secure Champions League football, finishing seventh and fifth respectively.

Van Gaal’s successor Jose Mourinho has come in for heavy criticism during his early months of his Old Trafford tenure after managing only two Premier League wins since August and slumping to sixth place in the table.

United remain six points off the Champions League places and eight behind leaders Liverpool and face an uphill task if they are to rejoin Europe’s elite next season.

But, with a record of four different managers in four years after 27 years with the same one, Neville has warned that the quick-fire sacking policy must stop.

"It's going to take some time for United to get through this thing of sacking managers if they don't come in fourth," Neville told the Manchester Evening News.

"They have to really live with Mourinho now and hopefully it will work and he can get it right because we need some stability there.

Louis van Gaal was sacked despite winning the FA Cup (Getty)

"I thought United would settle down quicker than they have with the new signings, they haven't - it looks like it's still going to be a bit painful.