MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United fired Erik ten Hag on Monday after a troubled start to the season left the 20-time English champions 14th in the Premier League and the club’s new management unimpressed by the pace of change under Dutch. .

The ten Hag, who was signed in 2022, paid the price as he led United to just three wins in nine league games in the opening months of the campaign. There have been four defeats, with Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham his last game in charge.

United finished eighth last season, their lowest in the Premier League era, and appear to have little hope of challenging for the title this campaign. It already leaves the legendary side in danger of missing out on qualification for the lucrative Champions League again.

“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and we wish him well in the future,” said United, who added that Ruud van Nistelrooy, one of Ten Hag’s assistants, will take over as interim manager in the interim that a permanent head coach is recruited.

Ten Hag joined from Ajax and was tasked with bringing the good times back to a club that had been in decline since former manager Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013. Despite winning the League Cup and FA Cup in his first few seasons of Ten Hag at Old Trafford, United were showing no signs of improvement in their worst league campaign in 34 years.

The ten Hag only kept his job after a shock win over fierce rivals Manchester City in May’s FA Cup final and a comprehensive end-of-year overhaul by United. He then received a one-year extension to his contract until 2026.

His departure comes amid a period of major change at United under new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe.

The British billionaire has taken control of United’s football operations, with a new CEO, sporting director and technical director all installed in recent months.

Ten Hag was United’s fifth permanent manager since Ferguson’s departure, following David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United’s next game is at home to Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday.