Old Trafford Uncovered: The four options for Manchester United chief Ed Woodward

ED WOODWARD is facing the biggest decision of his short but turbulent reign as Manchester United's executive vice-chairman. 

Ryan Giggs, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are in the frame to replace Louis van Gaal

The Glazer family, United's American owners, will be relying on Woodward for the answers to the club's current crisis. And the pressure is on to get the decision right to halt United's alarming fall from grace as a football force both domestically and in Europe.

Former banker Woodward has the Midas touch when it comes to revenue streams but he needs to show he is on the money when it comes to football decisions.

He appears to have four options.

First, keep faith with the beleaguered Louis Van Gaal, at least until the summer.

Second, sack the Dutchman and promote Ryan Giggs, gambling that he can turn round the team's fortunes despite his lack of managerial experience.

Third, appoint Jose Mourinho, who is ready and available to provide an instant lift and has the best track record in world football.

Fourth, wait until Pep Guardiola becomes available this summer and try to lure him away from the clutches of neighbours Manchester City and Chelsea.

Here we look in detail at the options...

Manchester United could stick with Van Gaal but he's losing the fans

Van Gaal

THE Dutchman is swimming against the tide now. Crowd opinion has turned against him, former stars have been putting the boot in all season, current players are rumoured to be in revolt, and even Van Gaal is sounding less sure of himself.

At the beginning of the month, senior United sources were indicating they were happy with the progress being made and even raised the possibility of extending his contract in 2017.

But three weeks is a long time in football. And it is difficult to see what progress has made. He has got only one more point than David Moyes after 17 games - and Moyes was still in the Champions League and Capital One Cup.

It is not just the results, it is also the boring style of play that has placed a huge question mark over Van Gaal. He could turn it round, but that is looking increasingly unlikely even with another pot of money to spend in January when obvious targets will not be available.

It would be dangerous for United to ignore public opinion and alienate their fans. After all, they need 75,000 turning up every week to fill Old Trafford.

Clubs (and countries) managed: Ajax, Barcelona (twice), Holland (twice), AZ Alkmaar, Bayern Munich, Manchester United.

Record: Played 861, won 520, drawn 174, lost 167. Win rate: 60 per cent.

Giggs would be a huge gamble given his lack of managerial experience

Giggs

UNITED could press the button early on their long-term succession plan by sacking Van Gaal and promoting his No 2.

It would be a popular choice but it would represent a huge gamble because Giggs' managerial experience amounts to just four games in charge as a caretaker when the pressure was off following David Moyes dismissal at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Giggs, 42, was a player-coach under Moyes and has been learning the management game under Van Gaal for the last 18 months. He has seen close pal Gary Neville take the plunge with Valencia and is now itching for his big chance.

And as a swashbuckling player under Sir Alex Ferguson for two decades when he made a record 963 appearances for the club, he would certainly take the shackles off.

If Giggs is overlooked this time he may have no option but to cut his ties with the only club he has worked for to gain management experience elsewhere.

Clubs managed: Manchester United.

Record: Played 4, won 2, drawn 1, lost 1. Win rate: 50 per cent.

Mourinho's sudden availability could have been timed perfectly for the hierarchy at Old Trafford

Mourinho

THE most obvious option and the one the majority of fans want.

Mourinho is understood to have always coveted the United job and wasted no time telling the world he is ready to get back on the horse as quickly as possible following his shock departure from Chelsea.

There have been reservations about his confrontational personality and pragmatic playing style, but no one has a better track record in management and United's players and fans need an immediate lift.

He is a proven winner in four different countries, and is more than capable of handling all the pressure and expectations that come with the United job. Significantly, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is on United's board, is a friend and admirer.

And it could be argued that Mourinho will become an even better manager following the chastening experience of the last few months at Stamford Bridge.

Clubs managed: Benfica, Uniao de Leiria, Porto, Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea.

Record: Played 765, Won 505, drawn 154, lost 106. Win rate: 66 per cent.

Guardiola announced last week that he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season

Guardiola

THE problem with this option is that United will have to wait until the summer when Guardiola's contract runs out at Bayern Munich.

Like everyone else in football, they expect the Spaniard has already been lured to the Blue side of Manchester where he is close friends with chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, who worked with him when he was a player and reserve team coach at Barcelona. And Chelsea are preparing to tempt him with a huge offer.

In the unlikely event that United haven't already sounded out Guardiola or his representatives, then that conversation needs to be had.

Are they prepared to be toyed with by Guardiola only for him to turn round in the summer and say, 'Thanks, but no thanks, I'm off to the Etihad where there is a far better squad of players available'?

Clubs managed: Barcelona, Bayern Munich.

Record: Played 375, won 275, drawn 61, lost 39.