While the media are reporting that David Moyes is in pole position to become the next Manchester United manager after Sir Alex Ferguson announced he will retire at the end of this season, that seems to be only based on the fact that bookmakers slashed the odds Sunday night on Moyes becoming an understudy to Ferguson, based on rumors.

It’s quite possible that the Moyes angle is a wild goose chase that the British media are pursuing based on little to no real evidence. Yes, Moyes is out of contract this summer at Everton, he’s Scottish and has a proven track record of helping Everton punch above their weight since 2002 when he joined the Merseyside club. But there is no evidence or clues, other than rumors, that connect Moyes with Manchester United. Yes, it makes sense in my book for Manchester United to appoint Moyes, but nothing is a certainty. We’ve been down similar wild goose chases with the British media before.

Not surprisingly, there are a lot of tight lips at the moment. Meanwhile, The Times has gone a step further and said that Moyes will be the next manager – although they quote no sources in the story. The Mirror says that Everton has had no contact with Manchester United over David Moyes. The Guardian is reporting that Moyes could and should be the next manager. And that it’s “understood” that Moyes will take charge. Understood, why? — because everyone else is reporting the same news?

Here’s what Manchester United chief executive David Gill said today regarding what he’s looking for in the next manager:

“The qualities [needed] are the ones that have been inherent in Manchester United for many years. If you look at what has happened with the two most successful eras – Sir Matt Busby and Alex – they are managers who got involved in the whole aspect of the club, whether it be from the youth team up to the first team.

“All aspects of it, plus that degree of loyalty and the understanding of the football club that it’s not just what happens on the first-team pitch, is crucial to the success of Manchester United.

“Those are the sort of things we’ll be looking at. Clearly he has to have the requisite football experience, both in terms of domestic and European experience, so I think it’s a small pool but we’ll move forward.”

I don’t doubt that Moyes is the leading contender, but it’s quite possible that Manchester United may have someone else in mind.