Paul Scholes reveals he is unlikely to stay on at Manchester United as he launches stinging criticism of chief executive Edward Woodward in claiming 'he has a lot to prove'

Scholes returned to the club to help Ryan Giggs during his four-match spell in charge after David Moyes was 'prematurely' sacked, according to the midfielder

Paul Scholes looks set to leave Manchester United after he admitted he doesn't expect to be part of Louis van Gaal's coaching set-up (Getty Images)

Paul Scholes has revealed that he does not expect to be at Manchester United next season and declared, in an astonishing commentary on the club’s troubles, that chief executive Ed Woodward has “an awful lot” to do to prove that he is up to his job and that David Moyes was sacked prematurely.

Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville had all been led to believe that they would receive contact from the club after the conclusion of the Premier League season, informing them of the parts they had to play under new manager Louis van Gaal. But in a declaration which demonstrates that he knows his future at Old Trafford is over, Scholes said that he is no longer waiting.

"I've not spoken to Edward Woodward,” said Scholes, who came back from a holiday to assist Ryan Giggs in managing the club when Moyes had been sacked last month. “I came back for Ryan Giggs for the last few games of last season to try to help out but I'm not waiting for a phone call and don't expect to be at United next season."

Scholes continued: "David Moyes took a lot of stick, but I believe he's a top manager. I'd question if ten months was enough time. Edward Woodward has an awful lot to prove this time that he's good enough at his job. He has to bring the players in that the new manager wants. It's obvious that last year he didn't manage to do that. If he doesn't we are not going to get anywhere near the top."

Scholes underlined his capacity for excoriating commentary in his devastating critique of United in the Manchester derby, in March. He said at that time that the differences between City and United were "glaringly obvious". "You need pace," he said. "Whenever we played we always had quick players playing with us. [Against City] we had Welbeck and [Wayne] Rooney with a bit of pace but apart from that - there are some nice footballers without them wanting to run in behind.”

But Scholes distinctly backed Moyes at that time, too. "Moyes is only nine months into the job, though. You have to stand by him,” he said then. “Okay, he's made a couple of signings that haven't quite worked out yet, but in the summer he's going to need backing, there's no doubt about that.”

Scholes, whose comments have come in the first of a series of World Cup columns for Paddy Power, also discussed how he believes England can get the best out of Wayne Rooney. He said: "Wayne wants all the responsibility to score. He'll try to play left back, right back. Sometimes he does that too much instead of saving himself and his energy for what his teams need - the ball in the net. He needs to use his energy more effectively now as he's a player who likes to be up front on his own and I don't think he's great with partnerships.

"To get the very best from Wayne in Rio, the manager needs to tell him: 'Don't bother running back. Stay up top. Stay centre forward. Score goals. That's your job in my team.'"

Scholes’ columns can be found at blog.paddypower.com