Ferguson staying at Old Trafford, says Gill

AS CHELSEA try to contain the fall-out from Jose Mourinho’s shock departure, Manchester United chief executive David Gill has confirmed Alex Ferguson will remain at Old Trafford for a few years yet.

“Alex has a good few years ahead of him, so succession plans are not on the agenda at the moment,” Gill told BBC Radio 5 yesterday.

“As and when Alex decides to step down we will look at all possibilities but we have a great team managing Manchester United on the pitch at the moment and we see no reason to change that at all.”

In his farewell address to the Chelsea faithful, Mourinho did raise the tantalising prospect of one day landing the United job himself.

But Gill reacted with incredulity to a left-field query over whether Mourinho could be brought in to work under Ferguson, a suggestion which, admittedly, has never been raised by anyone ever before.

“It is not going to happen,” said Gill. “We don’t need it and we don’t think it is appropriate. We don’t want that kind of confusion coming into Manchester United. We don’t need that kind of interference in our club.” Ferguson himself has always resisted telling the media who he thinks should replace him, although in a public speech recently the Scot did offer the name of his present number two Carlos Queiroz as a plausible candidate.

“We have a very good man in Carlos there, but we would look at everyone available at that time to take over what is undoubtedly one of the best jobs in football,” Gill said.

“There are lots of other people who have the credentials and at that time Manchester United will undoubtedly still be one of the most attractive jobs in football.”

One thing appears certain, no matter who replaces Ferguson, the next United manager will enjoy the same level of non-interference in football matters as the current incumbent.

“I have never suggested signing players and I don’t think any of the big clubs would ever do that,” Gill said. “It would never work, and it would be a recipe for disaster. And knowing Peter Kenyon as I do, I’m sure that didn’t happen at Chelsea either.”