Cloughie says Fergie should have quit

Former top manager Brian Clough believes Alex Ferguson was wrong to do a U-turn over his decision to retire from the Manchester United hot-seat at the end of last season.

Ferguson had originally decided to call it a day at the age of 60 in order to spend more time with his family but backtracked on that move well into what was to be his final campaign at the Old Trafford helm.

Clough, whose autobiography ‘Cloughie: Walking on Water’ is currently being serialised in The Sun, fears that is a move he will live to regret.

"Fergie made a big mistake when he announced he would retire at the end of last season and then changed his mind," said Clough, a dual European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest.

"I still believe that he should have stuck to his decision to make a clean break from the game.

"Managers who have won all there is to win should not hang around any longer than is necessary.

"Alex Ferguson might have been better advised to stick to his retirement plan instead of volunteering himself to be shot at for another year or two.

"It would be heartbreaking to see him abused from all angles should things not go according to his plans.

"But that is the risk he takes by staying in the trenches.

"Usually, the original decision is the right one. I’ll bet that crossed his mind when the season ended with nothing to show for it."