During a 2-0 triumph for Manchester United, Wayne Rooney was the scene-stealer. The visitation of the reigning Premier League winners to Aberdeen in the summer of 2008 ended up becoming a majestic event, particularly due to Alex Ferguson’s career-defining decision to switch from Pittodrie to Old Trafford. This friendly was to commemorate the silver jubilee of Aberdeen’s success in the European Cup Winners’ Cup under Ferguson’s leadership. Although it was supposed to be a friendly match, things got a bit heated in the after-match press conference.
Well-known in the northeast, Frank Gilfeather questioned Ferguson regarding the potential implications of the recently announced departure of Carlos Queiroz from United to become Portugal’s head coach. Ferguson, oblivious to Gilfeather’s presence, responded with a glare so malicious it could have scared off the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. After a pregnant, seemingly eternal pause of three seconds, Ferguson responded in perfectly clear terms. As the press conference came to an end, a gaggle of us swarmed around Gilfeather, eager to understand what could’ve ignited such an explosive reaction from Ferguson. It was widely known that Gilfeather had a sound rapport with the managerial stalwart during his reporting stint throughout Ferguson’s time in Aberdeen.
His answer came as a surprise, “Michael Crick. I had a conversation with Michael Crick for his novel”. Gilfeather recollected to Crick that acquiring a quote from Ferguson for Grampian Television back in the early ’80s was rarely an easy task. In his book, Gilfeather quoted, “The first thing he’d always ask was: ‘How much?’ And I’d respond, ‘Look, Alex, it’s just for a few minutes.’ He’d retort with, ‘Yeah, well, how much will I be paid? I receive £35 from STV for Scotsport, so how much from you all?’” Ferguson hadn’t met him since the launch of “The Boss” by Crick six years prior.
United’s recent decision to discontinue the ambassadorial post of Ferguson has cost him upwards of £2 million annually. Eric Cantona, the reputed French former professional footballer, showed his outrageous disapproval of this move. He was involved prominently in betting advertisements whilst enjoying Super Sunday, which illustrates his familiarity with lucrative endeavours after his footballing career.
Cantona firmly believes that Sir Alex Ferguson should retain complete freedom in the club until his passing. Although Ferguson can, he won’t receive a massive seven-figure amount for this freedom. Rio Ferdinand, a former United defender, warned that no one’s position is secure, and overlooked that the contingency does not influence the players at the lower end of the league or a manager a single loss away from a predicament.
Those in the crosshairs of the frugality drive instigated by Jim Ratcliffe are the 250 United employees who were let go as the club aims to recoup £10 million yearly. The average savings from this is £40,000 per person. The staff were informed about the cost-cutting measure in a meeting lasting fifteen minutes. There’s no evidence of Ferguson rushing to Ratcliffe to surrender his allowance, which has been disbursed since 2013.
It was glaringly obvious that employing a legendary manager at nearly £200,000 a month to promote all things United was needless. This is as much applicable to Ferguson as the club, which most certainly was apprehensive about a backlash from Cantona and others if they severed ties with the man who revolutionised their fortunes on the pitch.
How would a youthful Ferguson, a fervent unionist, interpret the situation of him receiving £2 million while those earning less were being considered superfluous? Ferguson, who will turn 83 in December, may have regarded receiving the United salary forever as an expectation or perhaps experienced a political epiphany. Then again, Ferguson hasn’t made any complaints regarding the dissolution of his paid ambassadorial role.
During a recent conversation with Ally McCoist, Ferguson stated that he no longer concerns himself with strategies or related specifics at match events. Despite this, pictures of him interacting with executives as United transitioned through various coaches post his retirement, doesn’t sit well with some. His willingness to provide phone support to managers at other clubs who are under fire demonstrates a kindness, but also a reluctance to fully step back.
His monetary interests played a significant role in a well-known dispute with his co-owners of Rock of Gibraltar. The repercussions of this eased the way for the Glazer family’s entry into Old Trafford. Ferguson’s claim on half of the stud rights from the horse resulted in a sharp criticism from a Scottish columnist who was once a close friend.
There’s no harm in someone like Ferguson, highlighting their own worth. This mentality served him well in his prime, bringing a wealth of trophies at both Aberdeen and United. His status as one of the UK’s top-notch managers is solidified. The sum of £2 million a year is hardly a motivating factor for most Premier League players. It’s simply that the appearance of this particular situation, which has only surfaced because United deemed it a financial surplus that was unnecessary, is less than astute.
There are seasons of mediocrity at Old Trafford presently. Whether Ratcliffe and company have the capacity to disrupt this pattern remains unseen. Ferguson’s removal from an official position doesn’t seem heartless, or likely to cause any effect beyond the financial impact. It’s just disappointing that Ferguson, who is clearly mindful of his reputation, didn’t arrive at this decision independently a while ago.