Manchester United legend Sammy McIlroy has praised the coach who will reportedly, imminently, be appointed new manager at Old Trafford as ‘fantastic’.

Erik Ten Hag has emerged as the leading candidate for the job and there is some speculation that the appointment might even be announced before the conclusion of the Dutch season, where he currently working with Ajax.

McIlroy – who managed Macclesfield Town and Northern Ireland after a magnificent playing career – is intrigued by Ten Hag’s reputation.

“What he’s done at Ajax has been fantastic,” McIlroy told TalkOfTheDevils exclusively. “I think the experience with Pep will stand him in good stead. He’s got a great reputation in Holland and I know all the top managers around Holland rate him very highly. It’s going to be interesting over the next few days to see if the appointment is rubber-stamped.”

So certain seems his appointment, that there has been speculation about who his assistant will be – with many names connected to the club and Ten Hag’s own country being mentioned, like Robin van Persie, Jaap Stam and Rene Meulensteen.

McIlroy believes that it is crucial the manager gets that appointment right, and feels there should be some club influence in the backroom staff – but not necessarily as assistant.

“I think it’s so important that he gets his number two right,” he says. “I don’t think he has to pick one just because he’s been a fantastic footballer at Manchester United. It’s very important that his backroom staff are bang on with him. With Ole there were three or four (former United players) behind the scenes, so if maybe one or two of them are kept on to let the new staff know what United is all about, I think that’s important, I really do.”

McIlroy was talking to us to promote his new book The Last Busby Babe. You can watch the podcast here or listen on all audio platforms now.