United's appointment of Lonnick as interim manager in December was more than just about helping the team through this bad season. It is believed that the influential German tactician may be able to bring some much-needed order and cohesion to a capricious, disorganized team and hit the top four of the Premier League to gain a place in next season's Champions League. However, he has also been promised a role as an advisor – after he completes his first-team duties – to shape the club's long-term future. Clearly, United are seventh in the table – exactly where Solskjaer was when he was sacked – and are now unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, and Lonnick clearly haven't done well enough on the pitch.
So, what is his future? After all, it was the consultant job that persuaded Ronnick to accept the temporary position because he didn't want to take a managerial job that was just a little more than six months old. However, it is understood that his advisory role is limited in terms of power and influence. Of course, while he is currently focusing on his first-team duties and has seven Premier League games to play, he hasn't lost all hope in the race for the top four, but it shows that he hasn't played a key role in finding his next full manager.
"I know they've talked to some people, but so far we haven't talked about the experience and impressions they've gained from these meetings," Longnick said of those responsible for finding a new manager. It's important that I focus on the next game. "The task of recruiting the next manager lies with Football Director John Multur, Technical Director Darren Fletcher and new CHIEF Executive Richard Arnold. Sources said Lonnick was involved in the recruitment meeting, including potential new signings and new managers, but while his opinions were taken seriously, he was not the "dominant voice" in the discussions. However, Lonnick has been with the team for four months and is convinced he knows what needs to be done to get United to challenge the main honours again in a few years.
He expressed his thoughts to the board through several meetings, proposing a four-point plan to implement in the coming seasons. The 63-year-old German believes they need to follow the example of Manchester City and Liverpool and recruit players who are suitable for a specific style. Lonnick also believes that any new signing player needs to have the right character and mindset to play at Old Trafford, adding that they must be physically strong and aggressive. His final point is that the club needs at least three transfer windows to correct past mistakes.
However, sources strongly emphasize that Lonnick's main role at the moment is to complete the season's matches, while Multur is focused on finding a new manager. It is understood that Ajax boss Tenhag has already conducted interviews and further negotiations on the Manchester United manager. There is no formal agreement yet, but United hope to find a successor to Ronnick as soon as possible. In fact, they don't rule out making an official announcement before the end of the season. The arrival of the new coach will obviously leave Ronnick out of the managerial position at Old Trafford, but there is some confusion about what his new role is.
The Austrian Football Federation has refuted reports of a conversation between sporting director Peter Schottel and Ronnick about taking over as head coach of the national team. However, this does not mean that Lonnick will not be able to take on management positions elsewhere while continuing to serve as a consultant for United. When asked in December if he would allow it, Lonnick said it would be a joint board decision. Now he's still unsure of what he's going to face once he's removed from his managerial role at Old Trafford. The reality of the consultant position is that he only needs to work a few days a month.
The club wanted to use his expertise and experience to help the team grow, but when offered the role, it was not expected that he would become an integral part of the new hierarchy of Arnold, Multur, Fletcher. Only when the season is over and the new coach arrives can Lonnick clearly fit into Old Trafford's new plan. Still, given that he already has a deep understanding of what the problem is, at the end of his short helmsmanship this summer, the club is likely to heed his advice for the next few seasons to get better.