WAYNE ROONEY, DERBY COUNTY MANAGER AND FORMER UNITED STRIKER

""As a manager, you can set a team up and work on shape and how you want the team to play, but there's no excuse for some of those performances from some players.

"To see players waving their arms around and giving the ball away but blaming other people was not acceptable.

"I would be very angry if I saw that from my players. Those players are at one of, if not the biggest, club in the world and should feel privileged to be there.

"In my opinion, the players have to show more - that doesn't necessarily mean winning the Premier League or the Champions League, but showing the fans that they are working hard for the club."

GARY NEVILLE, TELEVISION PUNDIT AND FORMER UNITED DEFENDER

"Thank you Ole. You did us proud. The last two months were tough but before that you restored some soul into the club."

On the club's failings, Neville said: "They're scrambling, they're reacting. It's three times they've given a manager a long contract or extension and sacked them within a few months. The planning is poor.

"I do think Ole was the right appointment in terms of taking over from Jose Mourinho, the club was spiralling into a pretty woeful place."

PETER SCHMEICHEL, FORMER UNITED GOALKEEPER

"It's really sad, I am seriously really sad. On Ole's behalf, on the football club's behalf, on all the fans' behalf. It's too many managers we've had to dismiss in too short a period of time.

"We've been used to 27 years for one man (Alex Ferguson) to be in the hot seat and I just feel for Ole. He's done everything he could, but in this modern day football it's been deemed not to be enough."

ANDY COLE, FORMER UNITED FORWARD

"All the best my friend. Whatever people say you will always be a Manchester United legend. You have put your heart and soul into bringing the glory days back to Old Trafford."

MICHAEL OWEN, FORMER LIVERPOOL AND UNITED FORWARD

"There were bigger managerial names than him that tried and failed in recent seasons and he leaves the club with the most talented collection of players it's had in a while. It's the next manager's job to get the best out of them."

"It has to be the worst possible time for Manchester United to be looking for a new manager. Early in the season with hardly any top managers available.

"The only obvious one available is (Zinedine) Zidane but the language barrier is surely a huge issue. An interim manager looks likely - again."

LOUIS SAHA, FORMER UNITED STRIKER

"The way you judge such a big club is by winning trophies - but the spirit has to be there. With previous managers, I've switched the TV off because it's been so frustrating. With Solskjaer, you felt like something was there.

"It's a strong foundation now for any manager to come. It's a sad step for Solskjaer, but it could be a good step for the club. There is now only a little per cent missing to get the consistent wins.

"This is a difficult moment, but it could be the shock that this club needs."

Australian Associated Press