Ryan Giggs Can't Be A No 2 Forever- David Gill

According to former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, Ryan Giggs can't be a No 2 forever and has to test himself as a manager.

Gill, who was in charge of the club when Giggs was a player under Sir Alex Ferguson, suggested that Giggs  might need to test himself elsewhere before taking over at the club. “I think that is something that Ryan will be thinking about and discussing it with the powers that be within Manchester United. I don't disagree with the notion that you can't be a No 2 forever. You've got to go out and prove yourself, and demonstrate you've got what it takes and you can actually do it when you're in the firing line.  I think, speaking to Alex over the years, and discussing his No 2s and their ability to be No 1, there are clearly different traits between being an excellent No 2 and being in the hot-seat as a No 1” Gill said.

Giggs, who spent time as an interim manager before Van Gaal was appointed, has seen his career-path contrasted to former team-mate Gary Neville, who is now in charge at Valencia but Gill, who worked with both men, insists there is no right way of doing things, as long as players take time learning how to manage. He said “You need to do an apprenticeship, and apprenticeships can take different forms. In terms of Ryan, I'm not saying what he's doing now isn't the right apprenticeship, but there are different ways of doing it, and people will choose different routes.  But without doubt you have to demonstrated you can be there and make the tough decisions”