Jim Ratcliffe does not provide assurance for Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United

LONDON - Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe stated that Erik ten Hag's future at Old Trafford is uncertain, acknowledging that the club is not meeting expectations under the troubled boss. Ratcliffe did not offer any guarantees regarding ten Hag's position going forward.

Ratcliffe had a chance to quash reports that Ten Hag is in danger of the sack when he spoke ahead of United’s crucial Premier League trip to Aston Villa on Oct 6.

But the 71-year-old’s downbeat assessment of United’s predicament was hardly encouraging for Ten Hag as he fights to save his job.

“I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call,” Ratcliffe told the BBC on Oct 4.

Ten Hag’s side are languishing in 13th place after winning only two of their first six league matches.

They suffered a dismal 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham last weekend and blew a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw at Porto in the Europa League on Oct 3.

United’s struggles have piled pressure on Ten Hag, who only survived a woeful eighth-place finish last season after Ratcliffe and his advisers conducted an internal review into the Dutchman’s turbulent two-year reign.

Ratcliffe reportedly spoke to former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel about the United job during the review before opting to keep faith with Ten Hag, who had masterminded a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City in May.

But the British billionaire, who took charge of United’s football operations after buying a stake in the club in February, was more equivocal about Ten Hag on Oct 4 when he was pressed on his manager’s travails.