If Manchester United lose a stunning FA Cup match against Wigan Athletic tonight, Mark Lawrenson believes they must fire Erik ten Hag and erase their status as a laughing stock. United travel to the DW Stadium hoping to get off to a strong start in 2024 by advancing to the fourth round.

The Red Devils would be well aware that a humiliating defeat to the League One strugglers would effectively kill their chances of winning any silverware this season.

Ten Hag publicly disagrees, claiming that his team is still in the running for the Premier League title despite being 14 points behind leaders Liverpool and losing nine of their 20 games.

However, a defeat against their north-west neighbours would plunge United’s campaign to new lows and undoubtedly bring the scrutiny on the Dutchman’s position to a breaking point.

He is said to be conducting an interview for his own job as Sir Jim Ratcliffe waits for the Premier League to approve his £1.3 billion transaction for a 25% stake in the club.

The 71-year-old businessman and INEOS have begun work at Old Trafford and Carrington, but cannot directly execute plans until the minority stake is approved, which will transfer complete sporting authority.

Erik ten Hag is under pressure at Manchester United. 

And Lawrenson feels Sir Jim will have to accelerate prospective preparations to install his own manager if United are knocked out of the FA Cup tonight.

“After Manchester United’s lacklustre performance against Nottingham Forest, if they lost to Wigan, Erik ten Hag would have to say, ‘thank you but no thank you’, because that’s the worst result possible for them, no disrespect to Wigan,” Lawrenson said in an interview with Paddy Power.

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe has gone through five managers at OGC Nice.” There are plenty other factors to consider with Manchester United.

Wigan will be looking to pull off an FA Cup upset.

“The roof needs to be repaired, they’ll be selling players in the January transfer window, and the club needs a complete overhaul, so what does he do?” If Ten Hag loses at Wigan, he needs to leave; it has become a laughing stock.”

Ten Hag is allegedly safe for the time being, with United’s new sporting hierarchy planning to prioritise other hires in the first few months of their project.

But the 53-year-old can’t take many more hits before the summer, when his destiny will most certainly be decided.

Nonetheless, United are the big favourites to win at Wigan and avoid becoming the only top-flight team to be knocked out in round three.