Former Man United star expects Jose Mourinho to be gone by Christmas

Lee Sharpe doesn't expect Jose Mourinho to see the second half of the season.

The former Manchester United star believes that Mourinho's days at Old Trafford are numbered after the Red Devils fell to a 3-2 defeat to Brighton on Sunday. Mourinho has cut a forlorn figure in recent weeks as he complained about the lack of summer signings and his fractious relationship with the club shows no signs of improving, with reports that United intend to appoint their first-ever director of football. He is currently the favourite to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season and Sharpe, who won three league titles during his eight years with United, can't see Mourinho lasting beyond the midway point of this campaign. "(Mourinho) is the wrong man for the job," Sharpe told Press Association Sport. "When he came to Chelsea the first time," says Shape, "the was quite charming and fun, but now he just seems dour and fed up.

"He’s moaned about not signing new players and not bigging up the ones he’s got. "The football’s not entertaining and what makes it twice as bad is that their two biggest rivals, Man City and Liverpool, do play exciting football. "His negative style does not fit in with the expansive football that United fans want. I think he’ll be gone before Christmas."

Sharpe's prediction comes in stark contrast to that of former United manager David Moyes, who last week claimed that he anticipated Mourinho's side to be top of the table come the festive season. "If you were looking at the games that Manchester United have, the first nine, ten games. You'd have to say you are not playing an Arsenal, a City, a Chelsea in that period," Moyes told BBC Five Live. "That's why I wonder if Jose's words the other day, the 'let's wait until the end of November', I would be very surprised if United weren't top of the league come the end of November. "I think the fixtures which have come out for them, and the way it has worked, will give them every opportunity to be there."