Get the day's biggest United stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

"See Fergie is at it again," one Manchester United fan remarked on Twitter. His post was accompanied by a meme of the Wicked Witch of the West watching her winged monkeys and the caption 'Fly my pretties.'

Sir Alex Ferguson appears to have tasked his own obedient flying monkeys - United ambassadors - to do his bidding and ensure Jose Mournho does not get the United job. Alas, Ferguson is like Mr Burns, unleashing his winged primates and watching them plummet to the ground .

Dwight Yorke has piped up - again - claiming Ryan Giggs should become the next United manager. "My appointment would be Ryan Giggs, for sure," the United ambassador said.

"He is somebody who is really knowledgeable about the football club and would gain the respect." Terry Christian is knowledgeable and gains respect among Reds. He should not necessarily become the club's next manager.

Yorke, Andy Cole, Bryan Robson and Nemanja Vidic - paid United ambassadors - have all trumpeted Giggs' managerial credentials in recent weeks. Red Issue touched upon it a month ago , tweeting 'Fergie camp's desperation explains pro-Giggs media blitz' following the club's Europa League elimination.

Not everyone is toeing the line. Ferguson's long-time friend, Eamonn Holmes, tweeted on Sunday: "How in the name of God has Van Gaal still got a job at Old Trafford ?????" a week after Ferguson insisted United should show patience with the Dutchman.

The Ferguson acolytes have been outspoken in their praise of Giggs, though. Robson collected his long-awaited league winner's medal under Ferguson, Cole and Yorke were club record signings who scored 53 goals between them in the Treble season and Vidic was plucked from obscurity and developed into one of the best centre-backs in the world.

Their loyalty to a man they doubtless refer to as 'Boss' even in retirement compromises them and their championing of Giggs is misguided and tedious. The Pravda prattling is also irking the majority of supporters who are realistic enough to understand United need to atone for their failure in not appointing Mourinho or Pep Guardiola in 2013. The ambassadors' sound bites are not going to influence Ed Woodward or the Glazers.

One Red, perhaps playing devil's advocate, argued they were trying to preserve United's history and identity. Inviting Mourinho inside Old Trafford, to some, is like allowing Lord Voldemort in to Hogwarts when the Portuguese would actually restore the club's identity by making them competitive again.

It goes beyond the ambassadors. Lee Sharpe, Giggs' early 90s partner-in-crime, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a kindred spirit during their time together at United, have opined he should replace Van Gaal. "Ryan's got the United DNA," Solskjaer said. So has Fred the Red.

Notably, Teddy Sheringham and Diego Forlan - two impartial voices divorced from the Old Boys' clique - have gone on record as saying the club needs Mourinho.

If it won't be Giggs then Ferguson has an alternative in mind.

The Scot gave Tottenham MP David Lammy permission to reveal in February he thought Mauricio Pochettino was the best coach in the Premier League . Even Ferguson's ghost writer described Pochettino as 'easily the best fit for United'.

Pochettino could be a fine fit once he wins something. Only 44, no manager has done more for the England national team in the last three years than the Argentinian, whose Tottenham side are tactically sophisticated and play enthralling football. Pochettino has developed impressively in the Premier League. Mourinho or Pochettino is a valid debate.

Ultimately, United need a managerial personality who can handle the gargantuan size of the club and is a serial winner. Mourinho ticks both of those boxes but Pochettino doesn't. The Argentinian could be an ideal fit for United in a few years' time. Giggs could also be a candidate once he earns his managerial stripes. Now, Giggs is less qualified to become United manager than David Moyes, something his former colleagues have overlooked.

Robson, Yorke, Cole, and Vidic were such brilliant players for United their highlights could be packaged and sold into separate DVDs. They understood what was required to succeed consistently at Britain's biggest club and witnessed Ferguson use his personality and sheer force to protect them. Yet their thoughts on Giggs sound programmed and they are difficult to take seriously.

Like flying monkeys.

Has Van Gaal lost the dressing room?