Lee Sharpe: Ryan Giggs is United's next boss

Black Country boy Sharpe came 'home' this week to headline 'An Audience With' show at Hednesford Town Football Club,

The 44-year-old, who was born in Halesowen, was the star turn of Darren Ashmore's DKA Promotions' offering for over 100 guests at Keys Park.

Sharpe was in the first-team at Old Trafford when Giggs broke through in the early 1990s to become one of United's best players of all-time.

The Welsh legend finally hung up his boots in 2014 after a whopping 24 years with his one and only club and is now manager Louis van Gaal's assistant.

Giggs spent four games in caretaker charge at the end of the 2014-15 season, until van Gaal was appointed after David Moyes was sacked.

Many, including van Gaal himself, have tipped him to become a future United boss and the Dutchman, 64, may retire from football when his contract expires at the end of next season.

And Sharpe reckons Giggs has always been earmarked as his successor, so he's expecting the Red Devils to keep faith with van Gaal until he's ready.

Sharpe said: "I think the plan has always been for 'Giggsy' to take over in the long term, but now is about a season too early for him.

"I'd imagine van Gaal was told as much when he went there and that's the idea of him having a three-year, not a five or six, contract. 'Giggsy' is what they are waiting for.

"If he gets a good coaching staff under him with a lot of experience, 'Giggsy' is absolutely ideal for the job. He knows exactly what the club is about.

"He knows what it takes to be a successful Manchester United player and to do it for 20-odd years. Players will want to play for him.

"He's learned a lot from Sir Alex Ferguson, a lot from van Gaal and a bit from David Moyes in his short period there.

"He's was an attacking player, so he'll be forward thinking in the way he wants the team to play. That expansive football seems to be what's missing, so it could be perfect."

United fans have frequently called for van Gaal's head as the most successful side in Premier League history languish in fifth place, having been dumped out of the Champions League.

Free agent Jose Mourinho has been strongly linked to the job, but Sharpe believes another managerial change might only add to their problems.

He said: "The last time I spoke to 'Giggsy,' he told me the players liked the gaffer and enjoyed the training under him. He's got a sense of humour and some good ideas.

"Maybe they are training a bit too hard, at times, which could make them a bit tight and leggy for games. It's hard to put your finger on what's wrong.

"I'm just not sure the players he's got there are good enough or maybe he's telling them the wrong things.

"He came to the club with an unbelievable record, everyone was hero worshipping him when he arrived and thought he was perfect for the job.

"We are 18 months down the line and people think he's wasting away, it's been difficult for him but the bloke is full of experience.

"Sir Alex even struggled for the first couple of years of his time there, he didn't turn up as the finished article and had to grow into the role.

"I think football is like life now, people have less patience and everyone's time is short. No one gets a real chance to put their own stamp on anything and turn things around.

"They are not 'doing a Chelsea' (sitting 12th as defending champions), but they are out of the top four and not competing for the title. That's not what fans have come to expect.

"It's going to take more time - they had Moyes for less than a year and now van Gaal's doing his bit in a difficult transition period.

"Unless they give someone time to get through the rough bits and put their mark on it, they might never get back to where they were.

"If another manager comes in over the summer, they'll be back to square one. It would certainly be a risk for them to sack him and start again."

Sharpe was a boyhood Aston Villa fan and has seen the claret and blues rooted to the foot of the top-flight for most of the campaign.

Villa axed Tim Sherwood last October after just nine months to make way for Remi Garde, who made no signings in the January transfer window. Eight points from safety, they look doomed.

Sharpe said: "It's such a shame. I've followed Villa since I was a boy and I'm gutted I never got the chance to play for them, in the end.

"You've got to put money into the club and they've been selling their best players every year and not replacing them.

"I think they've got the wrong manager, I rate Remi Garde but he's not Premier League relegation battle material.

"They should have gone for a Sam Allardyce or a Tony Pulis, someone with that British fighting mentality. It's all about rebuilding for next season now."