Premiership: Fergie agrees consultant deal

Sir Alex Ferguson has agreed a five-year deal to stay on as a consultant with Manchester United when his current deal as manager runs out in May 2002.

Ferguson insisted before the final game of last season at Tottenham that he would sever all ties with the champions at the end of the coming season.

He claimed the club had gone back on a promise over a proposed role as an ambassador for United.

Since then United have been seeking a way of persuading Ferguson to stay on with the club when he steps down as boss and have now hammered out an agreement.

United’s plc issued a statement which read: ‘‘Manchester United is delighted to announce that the club has reached an agreement with Sir Alex Ferguson that secures his long term future at Old Trafford.

After he retires as first team manager in May 2002, Sir Alex will be retained by the club as a consultant for a five-year period that will see him working on a part-time basis in a number of areas.

This will include, among other things, Sir Alex:

* Representing the club at meetings of the domestic and international football authorities

* Supporting the development of United’s overseas activities and the growth of its global fan-base.

* Promoting the interests of the club and it’s commercial partners and affiliates.

* Attending charitable, supporters’ and sponsors’ functions

The statement continued: ‘‘At his own request, Sir Alex will not be involved with football team matters in any capacity.

‘‘The new role will allow him to remain an important part of the club he has served with such distinction since 1986 while enabling United to call upon his invaluable services and vast experience everywhere the club plays football and business.’’

Welcoming the five-year consultancy deal, Sir Alex said: ‘‘I am delighted we have settled this issue and that I am staying on at the club beyond my managerial career. When you have been at a club as long as I have at Manchester United it really gets in your blood.’’

United chief executive Peter Kenyon, delighted to have secured a role at the club for Ferguson beyond next season, said: ‘‘This is truly fantastic news. Agreeing the deal with Sir Alex means so much to the club and our supporters.

‘‘This ensures that an Old Trafford legend remains part of the family, maintaining the continuity that is so important to this club. His presence will prove invaluable in sustaining and growing the popularity of Manchester United, both at home and abroad.

‘‘Most important of all, keeping Sir Alex at United will delight our fans and inspire everyone at Old Trafford to work hard to build on the unprecedented success of his managerial reign.’’