Gary Neville is adamant Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership team at Manchester United would prefer not to sack Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag has led United to just three wins in all competitions so far this season. United face Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon and defeat could see Ten Hag relieved of his duties.

Ratcliffe told the BBC in midweek that he would be leaving the decision on Ten Hag's future up to his leadership team, something Neville said he wasn't surprised to hear.

"If you went to FSG and John Henry was doing an interview over in America and said who would be sacking the manager he would say he's leaving it to the football department on the ground," Neville told Sky Sports.

"It will be Dan Ashworth, it will be Omar Berrada supported by Josn Wilcox, they'll make the decision or recommendation. Then it will be Joel Glazer, Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford who are on that sporting committee at the top of the club."

Neville claimed the new football structure at United will want to avoid sacking Ten Hag if they can. He continued: "One thing's for certain when you speak to people around the club: they don't want to make that decision.

"They want to be different and get through this difficult time. It's their first time in this situation and they've got a lot of evidence over the last 10 years of how to do it and how not to do it.

"They'll want to make their own decision on what they're thinking. There's no doubt when they backed Erik ten Hag in the summer that they didn't want to be in this position six or seven games in. The problem is, if the result and the performance are really bad today it gets really difficult and their nerve will be tested."