'If Man Utd sack Erik ten Hag, it needs to be worthwhile - don't just appoint a Negative Nigel'

Gareth Southgate is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

It doesn't take much money to shift the bookies' manager markets, but Southgate is now their front-runner for the job following a report claiming he is Sir Jim Ratcliffe's priority target.

That hasn't gone down well with the majority of United fans, who don't want to see Southgate manage at Old Trafford after his tenure with England. The 53-year-old hasn't won a trophy in his managerial career and he relegated Middlesbrough in his last club job.

ALSO READ: Ratcliffe has a simple decision to make on Southgate

LISTEN: Would you like Southgate at United? Our writers discuss

Ratcliffe has said all the right things since acquiring a minority stake and appointing Southgate would be his most controversial decision yet, so what do our writers think?

They have given their thoughts on the links to Southgate below...

Steven Railston

It seems fans are split on whether Ten Hag should leave at the end of the season, but even those who'd prefer him to part ways would rather he stay over appointing Southgate.

Southgate simply does not have the credentials to manage United and his last experience of club management saw Middlesbrough relegated from the Premier League.

Although he's done an excellent job with England, the demands of international management are different and success in that realm often doesn't translate into club football. Southgate has been perfect for the England job because of his personality. He is a statesmanlike figure, he speaks well on issues in football and wider society and he spent three years as the Three Lions Under-21 manager, so he understood how nuanced the job was.

However, England's squad is stacked with