Fergie retains 'total confidence' of United

Alex Ferguson retains the “100% support” of Manchester United’s board despite the recent alleged smear campaign against him.

Old Trafford chief executive David Gill insists his club have total confidence in Ferguson, who finally signed his one-year rolling contract extension yesterday.

The six-week delay between the deal originally being handed to Ferguson’s legal team and completion has been filled with rabid speculation that the Scot could be forced out of his position by major shareholder John Magnier.

The pair are embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over record-breaking stallion Rock of Gibraltar, and senior members of the United board have suggested the dispute is the major reason behind the stream of negative publicity which has affected the club in recent weeks.

While Ferguson’s new £4.5m (€6.6m)-a-year deal – which will take effect from 2005 – will not halt the Irish duo’s demand for an independent investigation into the club’s recent transfers, it at least allowed Gill to confirm how highly the long-serving manager is valued inside Old Trafford.

“Sir Alex’s fantastic record with Manchester United speaks for itself,” he said.

“His appetite for the game and his desire to build a new generation of world players at Old Trafford is undiminished.

“He has the board’s 100% support, and we believe the contract reflects our total confidence in the manager.”

Both Ferguson and United are happy with the rolling nature of the deal, because it will prevent the ‘retirement talk’ which undermined the club’s pursuit of silverware two seasons ago.

Despite celebrating his 62nd birthday on New Year’s Eve, Ferguson remains as enthusiastic for the challenge of managing the world’s richest club as he did when he first arrived from Aberdeen in 1986.

Although the summer signings of Tim Howard, Kleberson, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion have all attracted adverse publicity in recent weeks for the way they were carried out, their arrivals were a sign of Ferguson building for the future.

The age profile of the United squad has decreased markedly in the last six months – and the process of planning for a future without Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes is well under way.

“I believe we have a very strong squad with a nucleus of young and talented players as well as excellent prospects in our own Academy – and that will give us an excellent foundation for success over future years,” said Ferguson, who is bidding for his ninth Premiership title this season, a fifth FA Cup and – of most importance – a second European Cup.

“The board, and in particular David Gill, have demonstrated their confidence in me and support for my decision-making at every level,” he added.

“I am enjoying the job more than ever before and I hope I can reward that confidence on the pitch.

“The new contractual arrangements will give me a strong focus on the short-term challenges in the new season ahead as well as the long-term freedom to look to improve our current squad and to win trophies both domestically and in Europe.”

While Magnier and McManus are likely to remain unmoved by yesterday’s developments, they have been welcomed by United supporters.

“All Manchester United fans will be delighted with the news,” said Jules Spencer, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association.

“The esteem that Sir Alex is held in goes without saying. As long as he wants the job, as long as he remains hungry for success, United fans will be happy to see him stay.”