DON'T be surprised if two years from now this column – or one just like it – opens with the words: Who’s next for Old Trafford?

Now that a weekend of double celebrations by many Manchester United fans is over – they seemed less delighted about winning the FA Cup than getting rid of the man who engineered it – the worst kept secret is out.

Louis van Gaal did not have much to cheer about during his two years at the club, but to have his one moment of glory ruined by news that he is to be replaced by his one-time assistant was hardly good timing.

No matter – Jose Mourinho is coming and all is right with the Stretford End corner of the world.

Well, that’s not quite the case. Not everybody is as happy about the appointment as some of the members of the national press whose admiration for Jose falls only slightly short of hero worship.

Such is the mad, mad world of modern football that there is more kudos to be had by finishing fourth in the league than actually winning a trophy.

Only three teams – the Manchester pair and Leicester – ended the season with cups in the cabinet and two of them sacked their manager.

If the stories are true that United paid Mourinho £4m NOT to take a job while they decided what to do about LVG, then more fool them.

The argument is that Jose is a born winner (an accolade slightly tarnished by his second departure from Chelsea) and would love to manage United. Just as he loved to manage Chelsea until he didn’t love it any more.

He doesn’t spend too long in the same place to leave a lasting footprint.

And if United fans are looking for exciting, attacking football, they are looking in the wrong place – Jose admits he was taught by the man making a swift exit from Old Trafford. Mourinho’s Chelsea were hardly the most lovable or watchable of recent champions.

According to some papers, United are going to need their mighty wealth to attract some of the players on the new manager’s shopping list.

These are definitely headline grabbing times – but there is every chance that it will be Pep vs Jose rather than City vs United come derby time.

Mourinho is reported to be joining on a £75m five-year deal. We should remember that David Moyes was on a six-year deal that lasted 10 months; LVG’s three-year contract ended after two years and a cup win.

Will it all end in tears? Ask again in two years...

I HAVE often thought that fans expect too much from the teams they support.

Barrow Raiders' game against Toulouse on Sunday made me change my mind. I heard hardly any complaints from the 1,050 fans at Craven Park, despite the humbling experience of a 44-16 home loss.

They faced the facts: Toulouse are a full-time team; the Rugby League made a mistake by putting them in the wrong division; and the Raiders players gave everything they had and never gave up.

There are times when the opposition is too good, the referee isn’t to blame (no matter how he irritates with some decisions) and the rightful order means defeat is no disgrace.

Sunday was one such occasion. Defeat is not a tragedy or a disaster. We move on.

BY contrast, it was 114 years since Hibernian lifted the Scottish FA Cup.

In the aftermath of their 3-2 victory over Rangers on Saturday, the combined wishes of the Scottish FA and the Glasgow Police are that it will be 114 years before they win it again.