'Oh no he didn't!' - David Moyes cancels Manchester United Christmas pantomime

United boss cancels panto in favour of speech

David Moyes trudges off after defeat (Getty Images)

New Manchester United boss David Moyes broke with tradition and cancelled the club's Christmas pantomime.

Despite a 3-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday, his side are currently struggling and lie eighth in the table.

A source at the club told The Sun: "This year's Christmas lunch contrasted heavily to those under Sir Alex Ferguson, which were filled with fun."

"This time it was far more serious thanks to the new managers' speech. The youth team stars were gutted not to put on a show".

According to the tabloid, Former managager Ferguson used to serve soup in the kitchen dressed in 'a pinny' before sitting down to watch the pantomime.

Youth players usually took it as an opportunity to make fun of the more senior professionals at the club, one youngster famously wearing a Shrek mask and a wig after Wayne Rooney's hair transplant in 2010.

However Moyes this year decided to scrap the event, instead opting to give a speech.

Despite this, there was still some Christmas spirit at the club, as the seventh annual 'Santa Run' got underway at Old Trafford, with injured midfielder Michael Carrick officially starting the race which saw thousands of competitors dressed in Father Christmas costumes take on a 5km course.