Giggs uncertain over United future

Having taken charge of United as interim boss for four games, Giggs has developed a taste for management, but the 40-year-old is unlikely to secure the Old Trafford job on a permanent basis.

United's owners, the Glazer family, seem set to appoint Louis van Gaal this week, with the Netherlands coach already indicating he is prepared to work with Giggs on his staff.

However, the Welsh midfielder is also considering whether to keep playing, take a year off, or join the Old Trafford coaching staff permanently -- a decision he won't take until he knows for certain who will be in charge at United.

"It has been an experience," Giggs said after United's 1-1 draw against Southampton in their last game of the season on Sunday gave him a respectable record of two wins, one draw and a defeat.

"I've enjoyed it. I didn't want the second half to end. The fans were great, the players were great and I loved it.

"We were playing attacking football and I was enjoying it. I wasn't thinking about myself. My own position, I'll need to think about that and decide what I'm going to do.

"I think I will decide in the next week. The managerial situation will be sorted out probably in the next week."

Giggs admitted his brief spell in charge has been an invaluable experience as he considers going into management on a full-time basis.

"I've learnt a lot, probably more from the defeat against Sunderland than the wins," he said.

"I've learnt that it's hard to leave players out but you've got to do it. Testing at times, but enjoyable.

"I've not really thought about my own situation, whether to play on or not, whether to stay on in the staff and what position that's going to be, whether I'll just take a year off from football.

"These are the options, these are the decisions I've got to make.

"All the options are open. I'll look at everything, but I'll probably have to do it quick if a new manager is appointed."

United's failure to win at St Mary's and Tottenham's easy home victory against Aston Villa mean that the deposed champions missed out on a Europa League place, ending a 24-season unbroken run in European competition - a possible blessing in disguise, according to Giggs.

"Hopefully it will help us in our league form and we'll have good cup runs," he said.

"We're a club that wants to win things and this year has been frustrating, it's not happened. But it's like any defeat that we've had, we try to come back stronger and that's what we'll do.

"We'll have a new manager and I'm sure new players are going to be coming in and improving the team. So there's lot to look forward to."

United fans will certainly hope so after watching their team struggle to a 1-1 draw, achieved with Juan Mata's equaliser after Rickie Lambert put Southampton ahead.

Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra could also have been making their final appearances, and in Southampton's Luke Shaw, United reportedly see the ideal replacement for Evra.

When Shaw was taken off early, some saw it as a chance for him to wave farewell, but Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino played that down.

"Luke Shaw had a bit of cramp so there wasn't anything behind that decision," he said.

He was less definitive on his own position, with Tottenham thought to be suitors for his services.

"I still have a year of my contract left and it's normal that these rumours are going to start cropping up," he said.