Erik ten Hag's response to ex-Man Utd star revealed following contract stand-off outside manager's office

Bishop arrived at Old Trafford some two years prior to Ten Hag, with a surprising switch from Southend United completed at 20 years of age in 2020. He was acquired as a back-up that boasted the potential to push for starting berths in the future. Things did not play out as planned for the ex-England U20 international.

Bishop made no competitive first-team appearances for United before being shown the door in 2023. He linked up with Sunderland at that point, picking up vital experience across a couple of loan spells, before joining AFC Wimbledon on a permanent basis in the summer of 2025.

The now 26-year-old shot-stopper is enjoying his football again, with a starting berth being nailed down with the Dons in League One - with three clean sheets being secured this season for a team that sits fifth in the third tier of English football.

His stint with United now feels like a long time ago, but he boasts plenty of memories from a short spell at Old Trafford - even if not all of them are happy. One of his most memorable experiences involved Ten Hag and efforts to discuss a contract offer.

Bishop had been presented with fresh terms in 2023 after seeing a 12-month extension option taken up, but found himself heading to Sunderland a matter of months later. He clearly did not figure in the thoughts of Ten Hag - who had plenty on his plate across two testing years with the Red Devils.

Bishop has told The One Glove Beyond The Box podcast: "I built this scenario up. I needed to go up to Erik and speak about a new contract or the contract that had been offered. I wanted to go and play, leave and experience new things, maybe not sign a contract. I'd sat on this conversation in my mind for a long time. I'd gone over it and over it and over it and over it.

"I didn't think that it was right that I deserved to go and knock on his door. I thought, ‘who are you to go and knock on his door? You’re not playing, you're just a joey, you’re a training goalie, shut your mouth, sign the contract and f*ck off’. That’s what I believed. And in my mind, when you believe something, you believe it, don’t you? You believe it's true.

"So I was like I’m not gonna go see him, and then, I built it up, I have to go and see him. I knock on his massive door, his door is huge, he opens it, ‘not today’, and shuts the door. I just stood outside the door, this big beam of wood, like ‘what the f*ck do I do now?’"

Bishop got his wish when heading to Sunderland, but only went on to take in two appearances for the Black Cats. He had previously impressed on loan at Mansfield and went on to spend time with Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United during the 2024-25 campaign. The opportunity then arose to sign for AFC Wimbledon on a three-year contract.

While Bishop’s career is heading in the right direction, as his patience and persistence is rewarded, it is unclear what the future holds for Ten Hag. He was sacked by United in October 2024 despite delivering FA Cup and Carabao Cup triumphs across his two full seasons at the helm. The Dutchman returned to management with Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, but lasted just three games there before being brutally axed by the Bundesliga giants.