Dutch national team Mananger LOUIS VAN GAAL will not be formally announced as ManU’s new manager "until early next week," according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. It "was anticipated that confirmation" of Van Gaal as David Moyes’s successor at Old Trafford would come Thursday or Friday.
RYAN GIGGS has accepted a role as the Dutchman’s No. 2, "although the futures of other members of the club’s revered Class of 92 are less clear cut and are expected to be resolved in the next 24 hours" (LONDON TIMES, 5/15). In London, Mark Ogden wrote with only minor contractual issues still to be signed off, "both United and Van Gaal have opted to shelve plans." With Van Gaal "keen to avoid distractions in the build-up to Saturday’s friendly at the Amsterdam ArenA" -- and also avoid accusations of focusing on United at the expense of his job with the Dutch -- ManU is "happy to wait until next week to finalise the deal with the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach." The future of ManU’s current coaching team "remains unclear, however." PAUL SCHOLES "is understood to be holding talks with United," with PHIL NEVILLE and CHRIS WOODS expected to leave the club (TELEGRAPH, 5/15).
