Premiership: Ferguson should go now, says Docherty

Former Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty feels the solution to the Reds’ problems may be for Sir Alex Ferguson to go now.

Lazio managing director Massimo Cragnotti believes Ferguson’s announcement that he will retire as manager in the summer is the reason for the team’s recent slump.

Docherty agrees with Cragnotti to a degree, although he does not think that is the main factor behind United’s recent struggles.

However he concurs with Cragnotti that Ferguson should go now and sever all links with the club.

Docherty believes United should give him the £5million he has been promised for his new ambassadorial role over the next five years and clear the decks completely for the new manager.

Docherty remembers bitterly how Sir Matt Busby was still a powerful influence at United when he was manager in the 1970s and he feels Ferguson could have a similar effect on his successor.

‘‘I think Alex should probably have told the directors privately to give them time to line up a successor, but not have said so in public or to the players,’’ he said.

‘‘He does manage by fear a lot of the time and I think that fear factor is lessening all the time.

‘‘But I personally think the biggest factor in all this is that he has got no coach to help him.

‘‘Brian Kidd did a far better job than people give him credit for and so did Steve McClaren and since McClaren’s gone he’s had to do everything on his own.

‘‘I think the best thing for all concerned would be to give him his £5million that he’s going to get for his ambassador’s role and say cheerio.

‘‘Otherwise he’s always going to be there in the same way Busby was there during my time.

‘‘History has a habit of repeating itself and no matter how the club try and present it, Alex will overshadow the new manager.

‘‘If the new manager doesn’t do well then there will be calls to bring back Fergie.

‘‘So I think they should pay him up now and let the new man get on with leading the club.’’

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith also believes Ferguson’s decision to go in the summer is having a detrimental effect on the players.

Smith feels Ferguson should have followed Bill Shankly’s example and kept his retirement plans secret.

‘‘I think a big factor is the fact that Alex will not be there next season,’’ he said.

‘‘Footballers are lazy and I think they may be taking advantage of the situation.

‘‘Whereas before they would have given 100%, now they might only be giving 90% because they know Fergie will be going in the summer.

‘‘Bill Shankly kept it quiet when he went in 1974 after we had won the FA Cup and I think that was a better way to handle it.

‘‘I think Alex’s leaving has placed a big question mark over the team.’’