Bookmakers have suspended betting on Michael Carrick being sacked by Manchester United.The 45-year-old manager presided over yet another humiliating defeat on Sunday, watching his side go down 3-0 at home against Bournemouth. His United future is hanging by a thread and almost all major betting companies are no longer offering a market on Carrick being dismissed. Attention inevitably then turns to who might replace Carrick if indeed the axe does fall, with United languishing in 16th in the Premier League table. Currently, former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe (4/5) is the bookies’ favourite, while Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte are also in the running. Nagelsmann (5/2) has been out of work since leaving his post as Germany boss after their disappointing World Cup campaign. And ex-Premier League winner Conte (5/1) left Napoli by mutual consent at the conclusion of last season. Other runners and riders, albeit with longer odds, include Unai Emery (17/2), though there is no indication he would want to abandon his post at Aston Villa and Thomas Tuchel (22/1), who remains under contract with England ahead of a home Euros in 2028. Gareth Southgate, Diego Simeone, Kieran McKenna and Cesc Fabregas are all given the same outside shot of taking the helm as Tuchel. There are a few more comedic offerings, with Gary Neville listed at 100/1 to take charge – as is sacked former manager Erik ten Hag. For now, Carrick remains in his position at the crisis club and insisted his gestures to the United fans cheering him after the defeat on Sunday were not a goodbye.‘It wasn’t a farewell from me,’ Carrick insisted. ‘I probably didn’t really expect that off the supporters, if I’m honest, but I’ve always felt the support and that connection with them.‘It will take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support. It’s difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion.‘I’m feeling it for my players, they’re going through a tough spell. There’s a lot of emotion in the changing room right now, there’s a lot of the boys quite hurt, to be fair. MAN UNITED NEXT MANAGER ODDS: Eddie Howe – 4/6Julian Nagelsmann – 5/2Antonio Conte – 5/1 Unai Emery – 17/2 Thomas Tuchel – 22/1 Gareth Southgate – 22/1 Diego Simeone – 22/1 Kieran McKenna – 22/1 Cesc Fabregas – 22/1Darren Fletcher 33/1 Mauricio Pochettino – 33/1 Carlo Ancelotti – 33/1 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 33/1 Roberto Martinez – 33/1 Fabian Hurzeler – 40/1 Luis Enrique – 50/1 Daniel Farke – 50/1 Sebastian Hoeness 50/1 Brendan Rogers – 50/1Ralf Rangnick – 66/1 Roberto Mancini – 66/1David Moyes – 80/1Ange Postecoglou – 80/1 Lionel Scaloni – 80/1Erik ten Hag – 100/1Wayne Rooney – 100/1 Gary Neville – 100/1 Sebastian Beccacece – 100/1 (Odds provided by Betfair, subject to change and correct at time of publication) <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
‘It’s not like they don’t care or they want to be in this position. The ones I’ve spoken to, it’s affecting them a lot.’Asked if he expects to be sacked, Carrick said: ‘I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything either way.‘I’m carrying on as normal. I love this place. I’ll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club and I won’t change that now, whatever decision is made.‘It’s a tough situation, there’s no hiding from it. What it looks like and what’s next I really don’t know. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility. We’ll have to wait and see.‘Of course, I take responsibility. I respect the position that I’m in, and the responsibility is mine. What else can I say really right now?’READ: This was the end for Michael Carrick after his gang of the damned were relentlessly dismantled 3-0 by Bournemouth… he will be the next to walk into Man United’s endless winter, writes OLIVER HOLTREAD: Man United 0-3 Bournemouth PLAYER RATINGS: Which 3/10 star was totally off the pace in Old Trafford disaster? Who looked reckless and naive? And which Reds midfielder has escaped criticism for too long?