If Paul Scholes has established himself as one of football's most brutal pundits, it's nothing compared to when the cameras stop rolling.

Manchester United's fiercest critic can sum up the past five years in one word: "S***e!"

But the retired midfielder, who infuriated Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho with his withering critiques, is feeling a whole lot more optimistic these days.

That's all down to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whose 100 per cent start as interim manager has restored the feel-good factor, according to Scholes.

"Since Ole has come back you feel like you've got your club back," he says. "It just feels like you've got someone there who knows Man United. He's been a player, you look at Ole and he's a United man.

"I know he's had jobs at other clubs, but he's a United person. You'd almost feel welcome there again."

That's an interesting choice of phrase.

Scholes is sitting across the road from Old Trafford at the Class of 92-owned Hotel Football where he, the Neville brothers, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt are announcing David Beckham as part-owner of Salford City FC.

Of that legendary group of players, only Butt is still actively involved at United as academy director.

Scholes claims that is not how Sir Alex Ferguson envisaged the future when he retired in the summer of 2013.

"It is a little bit strange," he admits. "I think it was always the manager's idea that he would have us all involved in some capacity.

"In an ideal world he would have liked that, but it didn't happen for a year or so and people got other interests.

"The manager always wanted something similar to a Bayern Munich or an Ajax where there are always ex-players there involved in the club, but it just has not happened.

"I always remember the last couple of years before his retirement he wanted us involved. He wanted us to get our coaching badges.

"He wanted us around the academy, around the club, but that never happened other than Nicky."

Is there a disconnect between United and this group of celebrated players?

Scholes adds: "I don't really know the answer. Look, if we were offered roles it would be up to us individually to take them. Nicky obviously works there - he has got a big job involved in the academy. It's a massive job, and always will be at United.

"If we had been offered roles which we were happy with and we wanted to take, then I am sure we would have done."

Solskjaer's arrival and his determination to restore the spirit of Ferguson's reign has had a transformative effect on a club that was in turmoil by the time Mourinho was sacked before Christmas.

The Norwegian, who was appointed on a strictly interim basis, is now officially a candidate to get the job on a permanent basis and Scholes says the Class of 92 would be interested in getting involved if approached.

"If there is something in the future, I am sure we would all be open to it," he says. "It is great to watch and I think everybody has got that buzz back again - that wanting to go back to games and everyone with a smile on their face."

After seven straight wins, Solskjaer is already receiving the type of praise from Scholes that was never forthcoming with Van Gaal or Mourinho.

Both former managers took issue with his acerbic criticisms.

Interestingly Giggs, who was Van Gaal's assistant, never pulled his friend and business partner up on his public barbs.

"Me and Ryan never spoke about it," he reveals. "I can understand managers being unhappy with what I said at times. I wasn't slagging the club off, I was slagging the football off.

"I didn't want to do that. I'd never want to do that. I want to go and watch a great game of football.

"Now Ole's there it might be a bit easier because they're playing better."

Van Gaal accused Scholes of influencing United fans in his final months at Old Trafford. The ex-England international's response is typically blunt:

"I don't understand why managers, when they get asked about it, even give it the time of day. It's not important what pundits think. Managers should just be interested in what's going on at their own club.

"Obviously with the way they were playing and the way it was going it wasn't ideal - far from ideal - but you can't get away with bullsh*****g people.

"You have to say what you feel and what you think. A lot of the times, the games I watched, it was bad. You couldn't get away from that."

Scholes could take his first steps into management with Oldham soon – admitting he is missing the challenge of having something to strive for.

He claims he's ready for any criticism that comes his way.

"I think I'll understand that what people are saying, right or wrong, it's pointless getting into arguments about it," he says. "It's their opinion.

"This could change of course."