Hull City boss Steve Bruce has criticised Manchester United's 'handling' of Louis van Gaal's departure.

The Dutchman was relieved of his duties last night, months after it was speculated that Jose Mourinho was waiting in the wings to take over.

The axe fell just two days after Van Gaal guided the team to their first FA Cup win since 2004.

"It's been the worst kept secret for a long time now, that Jose is coming in there," Bruce told reporters. "It looks from the outside that the chance was just too good to miss.

"You do feel though, in all of that, when a manager loses his job, whether it's Louis van Gaal or Jose Mourinho this year, then you wonder how crazy the world is.

"Looking back on it, I am sure [United] will be disappointed with how it has been handled, because that's not great from the club which always sets the highest standards. Then again, football is a changing world and the one thing about managers now - we used to getting the sack, unfortunately."

Mourinho, who has been out of work since getting sacked by Chelsea in December, is expected to be announced as the new United manager within the next 48 hours.