Alex Ferguson has distanced himself from the appointment of Davie Moyes as his successor at Manchester United.
The former Celtic defender lasted just ten months at Old Trafford before being sacked and was viewed very much as Fergie’s ‘chosen one’.
Moyes was looked on as Ferguson’s prodigy with tales emerging of how he had been summoned to Fergie’s home to be told that he was to be offered the job before the announcement was made that Ferguson was stepping down after 26 years.
At his final match in charge at Old Trafford Ferguson pleaded with fans to stand by your manager but a year later Fergie has washed his hands of the appointment.
As Moyes’ reign fell on it’s face questions were asked about the recruitment of Moyes with fingers pointed at the influence of Ferguson in the appointment of his successor.
“There appears to be an accepted view out there that there was no process,” Ferguson questions in an extract from his new book. “Nonsense, we feel we did everything the right way: quietly, thoroughly, professionally.”
He added: “He hadn’t realised just how big United is as a club. As the results deteriorated, each defeat was a hammer blow to him. I could see that in his demeanour. In January we bought Juan Mata and that gave everyone a lift but I could see the walls squeezing in, leaving David with less and less room to breathe.
“I know that feeling from 1989, when we went through a terrible spell. You feel you are being crushed. The results gnawed away at David. Nobody could dispute how disappointing the season was. And it cost a man his job.
“It’s hard to watch that kind of outcome when Liverpool are the ones dishing out the pain. It was a rough season for a United fan and it was tough for me because I knew there were plenty of good players in our squad. They weren’t showing their form – and that seemed to place a huge weight on David’s shoulders.”
The lack of loyalty and support that Ferguson showed Moyes mirrors the attitude that he showed to Roy Keane as the Irishman’s book explained.
It’s believed that Moyes will be bringing out a book shortly detailing his version of events over how he was appointed and what went wrong at Old Trafford.
