Bobby is Stan’s ideal right hand man, says Fergie

ALEX FERGUSON believes Bobby Robson is the key figure in the new Irish managerial team headed by Steve Staunton.

When asked yesterday how he thought Staunton and Robson would fare, the United manager waxed lyrical about the former England manager whereas his only reference to Staunton suggested a concern at his lack of previous managerial posts.

“He doesn’t have any experience,” said Ferguson, who was in Dublin for the launch of the new Murphy Gunn Newlyn Group professional cycling team. “None at all.”

“But, there’s no problem for Steve because he’s got a man in Bobby Robson who has such experience and Bobby will give everything to Steve. That’s the kind of man he is. He’s unquestionably the most enthusiastic man I’ve ever met.”

As an example of Robson’s thirst for football, Ferguson recounted a story of how a rare afternoon off six weeks ago, which he spent flicking between Countdown and the Racing Channel, was interrupted by his doorbell.

It was Robson who, having spent the morning at a book signing 50 miles away, decided to turn up at Ferguson’s house unannounced. For three hours the two men talked football before Robson finally took his leave.

“I think the kind of job Bobby’s got in helping Staunton will be right down his street because he said to me that time, ‘I’ve got to get back in the game’. I said, ‘Christ Bobby, you’re 73, give yourself a rest’. That’s a great example to someone like Staunton.”

If Ferguson appears to have some reservations about Staunton’s inexperience then he has no doubt but that his former lieutenant Roy Keane will one day make a top-class manager.

The pair parted ways last November after a phenomenally successful 12 years spent winning trophies together. Ferguson still holds the height of respect for the Corkman, labelling him the best midfielder of his generation.

“I see the next stage for Roy as being a manager. I had 12 great years with the lad. He was without question the best player I had. His drive and demand was a great influence over all the players in the dressing room.

“It was just the time to go, the time to part. The problem is that you fall in love with your players because of what they’ve done for you. Age doesn’t worry me because I’m not a player but it worries every player because they come to a stage where the last day comes and eventually they have to leave.”

Success in Sunday’s Carling Cup final has prevented a second successive trophy-less season for Ferguson but this latest reconstruction project has been the most laborious for the Scot.

The patience of United’s worldwide following is beginning to wear thin though Fergie is confident he can find the formula for further success.

“It’s frustrating when you’re building a new team because all the exploits of the past are soon forgotten. I’ve had to build a new team four or five times because I’ve been there 19 years now. When you’re making the changes and bringing young people in the one thing you cannot get is consistency. You have to wait for that. Maturity comes with years.

“It’s forgotten simply because Man United is the biggest club in the world. When we do something good it’s back page news. When we do something bad it’s front page news.”