License a badge of honour for Fergie

ALEX FERGUSON has no personal grudge against Gareth Southgate but he is adamant the Middlesbrough manager should not be in the home dugout when Manchester United visit the Riverside today.

As a committee member with the League Managers’ Association, Ferguson is steadfastly behind the organisation’s belief that all league managers should have their UEFA pro-licence, something Southgate and Newcastle counterpart Glenn Roeder do not have.

After appointing Southgate as successor to Steve McClaren, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson successfully convinced the Premier League to let the former England defender continue in the job until he has the necessary qualifications.