• Wilcox considers Norwegian a prime candidate for role

• Senior players would welcome temporary appointment

Ole Gunnar Solskjær could make a shock return to Manchester United as interim manager, with Jason Wilcox, the director of football, considering him a prime candidate for the role.

Solskjær is thought to be open to taking up the position at a club where he remains a huge fan favourite as a former successful player there. Senior players led by Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire would welcome his temporary appointment.

Fallout from a dour and unsuccessful reign will hit well-paid executives who backed the outgoing head coach

Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United head coach began its final unravelling via four words uttered in Friday’s media conference to preview the weekend trip to Leeds. “You are very smart,” was Amorim’s signoff to this correspondent’s last question regarding if the Portuguese had been informed of a change in the January transfer budget by Jason Wilcox, the director of football.

The question was asked in reaction to Amorim’s odd comment on Christmas Eve that he was beginning to “understand” the finance was not available to sign the footballers needed to “play a perfect 3-4-3”. Hearing this, the radar bleeped red – Amorim was clearly countenancing changing from a system he was quasi-obsessed with.

• Head coach goes after outburst at Leeds game

• Glasner and Iraola among long-term candidates

Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United on Monday morning after 14 months as their head coach. He departs after a power struggle with the hierarchy over transfer policy, with Amorim demanding his ­colleagues in the recruitment department “do their job” following Sunday’s draw at Leeds.

His immediate replacement is Darren Fletcher, who takes charge as interim head coach. The Scot, a former United midfielder and the ­current under-18s coach, will lead the side at Burnley on Wednesday and could remain in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Brighton.

• Coach believed club would back him in January window

• Amorim had cast doubt on long-term future at United

Ruben Amorim’s future at Manchester United is in the balance, with the head coach’s strained relationship with the director of football, Jason Wilcox, a factor in what is viewed as an unpredictable situation at the club.

Amorim believed United were prepared to back him in the January transfer window should a major signing become available but at the moment this has changed, causing him discontent. The 40-year-old is believed to have been informed of this on the authority of Wilcox, who reports to Omar Berrada, the chief executive.

Manchester United’s head coach appeared downbeat when questioned over not being able to acquire enough top players to suit his preferred formation

Ruben Amorim offered a collector’s item on Friday – a point-blank refusal to address a question that concerned an answer he previously gave. In doing so, he hinted at a disquiet concerning the club’s transfer policy.

“You said you’re starting to understand that to play 3-4-3, you [need] a lot of top players and that’s not possible. Can I ask why you never realised that when you first came into the club?” was the question put to Amorim in his press conference for United’s visit to Leeds on Sunday.