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The numbers don't lie: David Moyes sacked by Manchester United

Manchester United have confirmed they have relieved David Moyes of his duties after a disastrous first season in charge.

Frenzied speculation in the British media over the last 24 hours had said Moyes' time at the club was to come to a premature end after he had seemingly lost the support of United's owners the Glazer family.

The club released a brief statement early on Tuesday confirming the news that the Scot had been stood down less than 12 months into the six-year deal he signed last May.

"Manchester United has announced that David Moyes has left the Club," read the statement on United's official website.

"The Club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role."

United, champions last season, are currently languishing in seventh place in the Premier League table and face a huge rebuilding job this summer.

Sunday's defeat to Moyes' former club Everton has turned out to be final straw, although it has been reported that the Scot's fate was decided as early as United's limp Champions League defeat to Olympiakos on February 25.

It has even been claimed United's powerbrokers have been sounding out possible replacements for the past FOUR weeks amid reports that Moyes had long-lost the confidence of senior players in the dressing room.

Club legend Ryan Giggs has been handed the reins on a caretaker basis until the end of the season. Youth coach and former United midfielder Nicky Butt will assist the Welshman.

"Following the departure of David Moyes as manager, Manchester United has announced that Ryan Giggs, the club’s most decorated player, will assume responsibility for the first team until a permanent appointment can be made," the club said in a statement.

"The club will make no further comment on this process until it is concluded."

Former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, who assisted former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, has also been tipped to return to the club on a temporary basis to assist Giggs for the club's last four matches.

KLOPP WON'T REPLACE FLOP

With confirmation of Moyes' exit the focus will now turn to possible successors with Holland coach Louis van Gaal and Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp seen as the early frontrunners.

A poll in the local Manchester Evening News newspaper saw overwhelming support for 46-year-old Klopp, the charasmatic and attack-mind coach who led Dortmund to two successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012.

However, Klopp has already ruled himself out of running after telling The Guardian: "Man Utd is a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans. But my commitment to Borussia Dortmund and the people is not breakable."

Klopp extended his contract with Dortmund, who will contest the German cup final against Bayern Munich next month, until 2018 late last year and said he was "still in love" with the club last week.

Meanwhile, while some United fans will be sad to see Moyes go, including former player Gary Neville who was a vocal supporter, a look at the plethora of unwanted records he has set in his first season in the dugout tells you exactly why the Glazers felt they had to act sooner rather than later.

FAILURE IN NUMBERS

- United are guaranteed to finish the season with their lowest ever Premier League points tally. Their lowest total is 75, which they posted in 1996-97 and 2003-04. They will only finish on 69 provided they win their remaining four games.

- United have finished outside the top four for the first time since the Premier League's inception in 1992.

- They have suffered 11 Premier League defeats this season, their worst total since the top flight was revamped in 1992.

- United have suffered more home defeats this season (six), then in any other Premier League campaign.

- Suffered three defeats in a row for the first time since 2001.

- Eliminated in the FA Cup third round - something which happened just once under Sir Alex Ferguson.

- First ever home defeat to Swansea (2-1 in the FA Cup third round).

- First home defeat to Newcastle (1-0) since 1972.

- Suffered first home defeat to West Brom (2-1) since 1978.

- First league defeat to Stoke (2-1) since 1984.

- First time United conceded a first-minute goal in Premier League history, and to make it worse it came against their "noisy neighbours" Manchester City.

- First time North-West rivals Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool have beaten United home and away since Premier League began.

- First time Everton has beaten United home and away since the 1969-70 season.

- First time Merseyside duo Everton and Liverpool have ever done a league double over United in the same season.

- In 51 games in charge, Moyes has won just 27, drawing nine and losing 15 giving him a winning percentage of 52.94%.

AND FINALLY...

- To make matters worse, United's biggest rivals Liverpool are on the brink of winning the league title for the first time in 24 years. A Reds triumph would see the club move to 19 league titles, just one behind United's record tally of 20.