Alex Ferguson reacts to Ten Hag's United appointment

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes that the struggling club 'needs someone to take control' as he wished incoming boss Erik Ten Hag all the best in his new role.

Ten Hag will take over as manager at Old Trafford at the end of the current season.

Without a permanent boss since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's exit in November, the Red Devils initially worked under caretaker Michael Carrick before Ralf Rangnick took over on an interim basis for the rest of the campaign.

United have been interviewing with a view to appointing their new permanent manager before the summer to aid their much-needed rebuild, with Ten Hag chosen as the man to lead the club forward.

Ten Hag has his work cut out for him as United continue to struggle for form and look set to miss out on the Champions League places this season.

Speaking to RTE Sport at the Punchestown Races, Ferguson, who is part-owner of Clan Des Obeaux, reacted to the Dutchman’s appointment.

"I hope he does well," Feguson said. "The club needs someone to get in control. I hope he does well."

On the track at Punchestown there was disappointment for the former United manager as Clan Des Obeaux had to settle for second place in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

Favourite Allaho slammed his rivals in an impressive display, with last year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux not giving up his title without a fight as jockey Harry Cobden was determined not to allow Allaho an easy lead and raced with him for the first two miles, but from a long way out Townend began to wind up the pace and eventually cruised home.

Alex Ferguson, part-owner of Clan des Obeaux, speaks to @rteracing about his horse's prospects at Punchestown and briefly touches on the new Man United boss Erik Ten Hag - Commentary