Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey pens strong letter after Michael Carrick and Manchester United part ways. (Image: Reuters and Instagram)

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick following a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season, ending his second stint at Old Trafford less than six months after appointing him on a two-year contract. The club announced Carrick's departure in an official statement on Wednesday, with United struggling for results and languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

"Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men's first-team head coach," the club said.

"After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions," it added.

Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey posted a strongly worded letter on social media, expressing his disagreement with the club's decision to part ways with Carrick and calling it an absolute 'disgrace and betrayal'.

"A DISGRACE. AN ABSOLUTE BETRAYAL OF EVERYTHING MANCHESTER UNITED ONCE STOOD FOR," the first line of post read.

"There comes a point when disappointment turns into disgust. And for me, that point has arrived.

For more than a decade, Manchester United supporters have watched one of football's greatest institutions descend into utter chaos. What began as frustration has turned into resentment, leaving the bond between the club and its supporters more fragile than ever.

And now, Michael Carrick.

man who gave nearly two decades of his life to this magnificent institution. A serial winner. Someone with Manchester United running through his veins, who understood the badge and everything it stood for.

When the club needed him, he answered. When belief had disappeared, he restored it. When Champions League football seemed a distant dream, he brought us back.

And this is how we repay him?

The sheer arrogance of this decision is staggering.

Carrick was never going to undo years of damage overnight. But he had begun something that mattered. He brought back pride, purpose and, above all, HOPE. And that is precisely why this decision will come back to haunt them.

Because in Carrick, United had something money cannot buy: loyalty, credibility and the trust of its supporters. He wasn't merely rebuilding a team. He was restoring a connection that had been lost for far too long.

You can replace a manager. But you cannot buy that connection overnight. Nor can you build a future by repeatedly tearing down its foundations."

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He said and believed that the former mid-fielder deserved a better Manchested United and he stands with the legend.

"Michael Carrick deserved better. Manchester United deserved better. I stand unequivocally with him.

Mark my words. This will go down as one of the most catastrophic decisions in Manchester United's history. Not simply because of the man they've lost, but because of everything they've so recklessly thrown away.

You haven't just sacked a manager. You've betrayed the very soul of Manchester United.

And when the consequences finally catch up with you, remember this moment.

This isn't the end of Michael Carrick.

This is the beginning of yours."

Carrick's time at United as coach

Carrick was appointed in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim's departure. He was first appointed as an interim coach and made heads turn, guiding Manchester United to 12 wins in his 17 matches in charge.

His impressive run helped United secure a third-place finish in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The club also accumulated more points than any other side in the league during his tenure, convincing the management to hand him a permanent role. Carrick signed a contract until 2028 on May 22.

However, he failed to maintain that momentum in the 2026-27 campaign, with United struggling to find consistency.

United's latest disappointment came on Sunday when they played out an entertaining 4-4 draw against Aston Villa. The Red Devils were caught off guard early, going 2-0 down within the first four minutes.

Carrick's departure means United will embark on another hunt for a long-term manager. It will be their eighth permanent managerial appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.