Manchester United have given Ole Gunnar Solskjær their unequivocal backing after the dismal home defeat by Burnley that prompted calls for change at the club.

Solskjær’s team have lost eight times in the Premier League this season and are 30 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, who have two games in hand.

Jay Rodriguez’s bolt from the blue for Burnley shatters Manchester United Read more

But United have no intention of sacking Solskjær and will allow him more time to improve and rebuild the team, who are fifth in the table.

Most of the fans’ anger at Old Trafford during the game against Burnley, who won there for the first time since 1962, was aimed at the club’s owners, the Glazer family, and the executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward. The vice-chair of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, Ian Stirling, began the ‘green and gold’ protest against the ownership of the Glazers a decade ago, where United fans carried scarves in the colours of United’s 19th-century precursor Newton Heath to show their discontent at the Americans. He said dissatisfaction is now coupled with a specific concern about the future.

“It’s plain to see we need investment,” he said, “but we also need an investment strategy. Buying big names like Paul Pogba hasn’t worked. Woodward has said he is happy with the structure, with the scouting network and the recruitment data. Players have to have been identified but where are they?

“Supporters are willing to give the club time but it’s how that strategy is demonstrated. Our position is always to support the team and defend the club; we want owners with the same priorities. If not we have to hold them to account. It’s not about immediate success, it’s about where we are going. What are their priorities? If it’s just commercial, we don’t want that.”

Against Burnley some United fans were heard sing a chant that called for Woodward to be stuck in a bonfire. The song met with controversy afterwards, but Stirling defended it, saying ‘“all kinds” of songs were sung at matches.

“The problem with the full outrage [about the chant] is that it ignores the real issues”,” he said. “No one is going to attack [Woodward]. He was in a pub with United fans recently and the worst thing that happened was a wet willy in his ear. Let’s keep it in perspective, supporters have very little opportunity to voice their discontent.”

Solskjær himself admitted he felt “disillusioned” afterwards and he must prepare his team to play at Tranmere or Watford in the FA Cup on Sunday. They then go to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final, trailing 3-1 from the first leg.

The former United defender Rio Ferdinand described himself as “embarrassed” by the performance against Burnley. “It’s embarrassing to be here seeing this,” he said on BT Sport. “You can’t defend this. Fans were walking out after 85 minutes. People at the top need to see this and make changes and put a plan in place. Young kids in schools around the country won’t be wearing Man United shirts, they won’t be wanting to come here and see this.”