Fergie ponders ending 26-year United reign

Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United future was last night shrouded in mystery as the club failed to respond to requests to confirm or deny that he was contemplating his future after 26 years at the helm.

Several sources close to Old Trafford have said that the playing squad and some sponsors have been told of a “significant announcement” to come on Sunday.

And, following a series of stories from the manager’s hip operation to the news that Everton’s David Moyes is now the preferred choice to eventually succeed him, it led to significant speculation that Ferguson was considering his retirement.