Man Utd granted special exemption to Premier League rule after Darren Fletcher appointment

Darren Fletcher's inaugural press conference as Manchester United's interim manager is set to get underway at the unconventional time of 5pm on Tuesday, courtesy of a special dispensation from the Premier League. The 41-year-old has been thrust into the hot seat following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

Fletcher, a former United midfielder, was promoted from his role as head coach of the under-18s, a position he took up in July after serving as assistant to Erik ten Hag. Fletcher's first duty was to supervise Monday's training session, which reportedly had an upbeat atmosphere.

Assisted by under-21s manager Travis Binnion, Fletcher is gearing up the squad for their upcoming clash against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

However, before that, he must face the press.

Premier League rules stipulate that press conferences should commence no later than 1.30pm the day prior to a match, or on Friday for weekend fixtures. Yet, United were granted permission to postpone Fletcher's maiden media briefing.

The focus of the press conference at a chilly Carrington is unlikely to be solely on Scott Parker's Burnley. Topics such as Amorim's exit and Fletcher's aspirations in his temporary role are expected to be discussed.

Fletcher will oversee both Wednesday's match and the FA Cup tie against Brighton on Sunday. It's anticipated that United will appoint a caretaker until the season's end, with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being considered.

Fletcher could continue as part of the coaching setup, as he did under Solskjaer in 2021, or should results favour him, the United hierarchy might be tempted to retain him in the role for the Manchester derby later this month and potentially longer. Whilst he lacks first-team managerial experience, he has harboured ambitions of leading United for some time.

"When I take my first steps on the management ladder, the goal is to become Manchester United manager because that's the pinnacle for me," Fletcher told the UTD Podcast in 2019. "Nothing tops that, nothing's bigger."

Should the club opt for a caretaker appointment, the Red Devils board would utilise the remaining months of the campaign to identify a permanent replacement for Amorim.

Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace, Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth, and Marco Silva at Fulham are all available when their contracts expire in June and are reportedly being considered.