Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed overseas owners for a spate of recent dismissals in the Premier League and beyond. The Scot, 69, has survived an incredible 1,023 managers in the football leagues during his 24 year tenure at Old Trafford, but feels new owners lack the patience of the past, leading to the rash of sackings.
It’s an interesting rant from the Manchester United manager, who has spent the past five years becoming the American Glazer regime’s lickspittle. However, Ferguson’s friends Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson were fired by new overseas owners at Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool in the past month.
Allardyce got his marching orders from the Venky Group, Indian chicken merchants who bought Blackburn in a £23 million deal in November. Hodgson fell after a period of fan pressure at Anfield resulted in the Boston-based owners wielding the axe.
The dismissals have clearly irked Ferguson though, whose old-school management friends are slowly falling by the wayside.
“Unfortunately it’s the climate of management nowadays and, over the last decade, it has got worse and worse,” Ferguson told American radio station, Sirius XM.
“I don’t think the game has the stable directorships it used to have, with clubs having the grandfather and father being chairmen for periods of 40-odd years.
“You have new ownerships now, people from abroad, the Middle East, the United States and Russia.
“You’ve got all different types of cultures coming into the game now and running football clubs, and I don’t think they have the same patience of older generations.”
Arguably, in the short-term thinking of the age, club owners do tend to bow to fan and media pressure more acutely than in the past. But it is not obvious that all premature dismissals are at the hands of owners “from abroad,” despite Ferguson’s overly nostalgic view. There seems little evidence that owners’ nationality has directly affected any hiring and firing decisions made at any level of the English football pyramid.
Indeed, Ferguson’s son – Darren – was recently dismissed by the English owner and chairman pairing of Trevor Hemmings and Maurice Lindsay at Preston North End.
Meanwhile, Chris Houghton’s successful reign as manager of Newcastle United was abruptly terminated by the English owner Mike Ashley. Similarly, Avram Grant’s tenure in charge of West Ham United is perpetually undermined by English co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, who repeatedly brief the press about their manager’s job security. Or lack thereof.
Ferguson was of course himself sacked as manager of St Miren in 1978 (we can presume no overseas owners there), officially for breach of contract but more probably because the former Rangers player had already agreed to join Aberdeen as coach. But the coach feels that the environment has become harder for managers, who are now given less time that before to succeed.
“It’s not an easy industry to work in nowadays, particularly for younger managers looking to gain experience and confidence. You know, time is a great thing for managers.
“If they are given time, they can get their philosophy across to the football club and lay the foundations, but they are just not getting that time.”
He may have a point. Ferguson was famously given four years before winning a first trophy at Old Trafford and six before United became English champions for the first time in 26 years. By contract Hodgson got less than six months to turn around the worst Liverpool squad in a generation.
Yet Ferguson’s volley against foreign owners appears to fly in the face off his own behaviour in recent months. The Scot has openly courted the Qataris in recent times, taking United on a short-notice trip to a Doha training camp last January, appearing at the ‘Aspire’ conference last autumn and publicly backing the country’s successful World Cup 2022 bid.
Rumours of a Qatari bid for United – or investment in the Glazers’ debt – persist in the face of the country’s sport-based post hydro-carbon economic strategy. As one United fanzine recently put it – its not hard to add two and two and make five when it comes to Ferguson’s behaviour.
More to the point, the legendary United manager has not once criticised the debt-laden business model brought to Old Trafford by the Glazer family. It leads to an obvious accusation of hypocrisy. It seems, when it comes to Ferguson, foreign owners are bad – unless its his foreign owners that is.
I think you’re wrong to compare Sir Alexs comments on Managers getting prematurely sacked (by foreign owners) to clubs generally being owned by foreigners.
In my opinion, the two situations should be, and probably are, mutually exclusive.
Could it be that your interpretation of Fergie’s comments has been swayed by the way in which those comments have been reported by the press?
In this case he hasn’t exactly said “all premature dismissals are at the hands of owners from abroad”. My interpretation is that he has suggested that the ways in which clubs are run has changed due to the different influences brought about by new owners, many of whom do come from abroad. You, like many reporters who have made reference to the quotes, appear to have taken this a step further than Fergie possibly intended.
Tom – or maybe he’s angry because his mates were sacked by “owners from abroad”? Its not as if Ferguson had to make an issue of this but he did and I’m asking – why? Oh and I’m perfectly able to interpret Ferguson’s own words myself.
Forgive the old boy a rant. Of course he is nostalgic for a way of life, seen through rose tinted spectacles, of the past. But he is a complex character & he is very much up to speeed in how the modern game is played. The fact is that there is more pressure on a manager “to be successful” than ever before, because the stakes are higher & rewards greater, so its probably inevitable that the failure rate of managers must be higher. Ferguson, Allardyce & probably Hodgson are old fashioned “managers”, perhaps we will go the way of Spain & most coaches will expect to move on every couple of years.
Tom- agree totally. this site is an absolute joke if you ask me. always slagging the great man off at the slightest opportunity, its embarassing really that this is meant to be a united fans’ site. awful at best!
realist – then why do you read, if that’s the way you feel?
Fergie has a point about managers not having enough time to mould the team in their image because we are living in a ‘instant this and instant that’ world.
However…even though Fergie comes off as a hypocrite by praising the Glazers and risking his reputation in the process,I can understand why he isn’t criticizing them.
The only reason why the Glazers would never sack Fergie or even contemplate such a move is because Fergie has totalitarian powers at United.
I will be very interested to see whether or not the Glazers are just as patient with United’s future manager as they are with Fergie.
You a Bitter Blue or just a Mong Up’d Chavy Bindipper?
Yeah I don’t really agree with this article at all. First of all, we don’t have to treat Fergie as a saint beyond reproach or criticism, but calling him the glazers’ “lickspittle” in the second paragraph is well over the top and calls into question the objectivity of the rest of the article.
Then I don’t really see anything wrong with what Fergie is saying and doing. The man adapts to the times, it’s the secret of his longevity. Just recently he said that players are softer than they used to be, doesn’t make him a hypocrite for working with “soft” players these days if it’s for the good of the club. In the same way, he’s entitled to feel a bit nostalgic for the old days when managers weren’t expected to deliver the goods in one season or be sacked, and he’s not a hypocrite for staying competitive in the new era. If he was saying everybody needed to take a stand and change things, then he’d be critical, but he’s not doing that, he’s just saying that’s the way things are now.
He also said himself recently that he didn’t think he was beyond being sacked, i.e. that he felt the Glazers would sack him if he didn’t deliver for a few seasons in a row. So I don’t see anything inconsistent here really.
Fergie talks a load of crap sometimes, but this seems really uncontroversial blather on a radio chat show if you ask me.
bman – lickspittle means a sycophant. Given Ferguson’s pronouncements on the Glazer family over the past five years I don’t really see how you can challenge that label. I don’t see why it should call into question the article’s objectivity. Not that this website needs to be “objective”. This isn’t the BBC, I’m happy that me and the other writers ‘say it as we see it’.
There is a hypocrisy in here its quite simple to me we are speaking and relating to massively different times.
24 years ago, funding and financial implications of failure are now clearly more intense and demanding. The consequences of dropping out of the Premiership as an example punitive.
He came to Old Trafford with an excellent pedigree in a considerably weaker league, he did have pedigree.
Older United fans will know full well how your patience was tested with Alex Ferguson then, and the owners clearly saw the potential.I believe if he came to Old Trafford in this day and age he would not be allowed the same amount of time to deliver a Cup, regardless of wether United were owned bye Foreign owners or not!
None of the managers he refers to have a credible pedigree to justify displaying any significant loyalty to over and above what the time at the Clubs they were offered.The two premiership cases are totally different as regards reasons for the dismmisals in my opinion.
The two Premiership managers as an example were in place prior to the New Owners at both Clubs taken the reigns of thier new “Buisness’s”.They have the right to select the most important man to manage their affairs regarding football matters.
I agree I cant understand why he feels the need to act like a Godfatherly figure and broadbrush the majority of foreign owners but not all!Is it just a simple case of nepotism, and I’LL founded.
As is rightly pointed out not all clubs not only in the English Premiership but the other clubs in the United Kingdom are not foreign owned and yet have a merrygo round of hire and fire.
Note To Self, proof read for spelling prior to posting 🙂
The only thing the Glazers have ever done right – Keep faith in SAF
This is correct, not so sure if this should be slavishly returned bye Sir Alex.
I know he cant openly critize them mate but he does not have to offer his support either does he?
This obsession with slagging the Glazers is always expected from Ed but when it extends to the club’s greatest asset, it descends into the absurd. “Lickspittle” a lack of respect that is frankly unacceptable for the vast majority of supporters. I suppose Fergie could have fallen on his sword and gone on to manage FC United but he stayed and brought the club even more glory. Even more ludicrous was your claim on the Rant Ed, that Fergie’s failure to slag his own employers had tainted his legacy. Leave it alone. I’m afraid you’re on your own on this one.
Twisted – Not sure where that rant comes from as its really nothing to do with the piece. In any case the description is not a lack of respect, its a fact. Lickspittle, sycophant, shill all perfectly reasonable descriptions given his behaviour.
Just so we’re clear at no point did I say Ferguson’s “failure to slag his own employers had tainted his legacy” – I said that Ferguson’s pivotal role in the takeover and subsequent obsequiousness had tainted his legacy. I’m happy for you to disagree, what is not acceptable is a deliberate misrepresentation of what I said. Fortunately the Rant Cast is public so the readers (listeners) can hear for themselves.
Just to clarify! A “lickspittle” means a servile flatterer, a fawning underling!.
Example the “Glazer are great owners” really?
He must know the ill feeling and hatered towards them?
ffs. He’s getting the job done correctly, ergo. the money comes in, if he didn’t tho, he’s have been kicked out long ago.
ed- i read because i see the headline on newsnow and think, “here we go, what shit has been written now?!”
i write because i want to tell you what i think of the article you have written. you seem to pride yourself on telling it how you see it and im doing the same, is this allowed?!
realist – your comment appears doesn’t it? I guess my problem is that you add no value. Instead of contributing to the debate you throw out another insult. Seriously, what’s the point? I don’t care if you vehemently disagree with me, I don’t need your approval at all. But you add no value at all to the debate.
i don’t think it is fair to say that fergie has not criticised the owners for the debt laden business
so what if he hasn’t. it’s not a big deal – maybe he has no problem with it. maybe he thinks he understands fuck all about it, so he won’t comment.
you seem to want him to form a view on something that is aligned with your view – and if fergie just shuts up you criticise him
danniitronix says:
January 14, 2011 at 3:08 pm
“i don’t think it is fair to say that fergie has not criticised the owners for the debt laden business!”
Can you direct us to where this alledged statement is please.?
danni – but he doesn’t just shut up, does he? He panders to the Glazers while telling the fans to “fuck off and support Chelsea”
Fergie’s legacy IS tainted by his lickspittling to the Goblins – absolutely no doubt in my mind.
And I’m glad that at least UnitedRant has the bottle to state and defend their position on the subject.
But I only have to cast my mind back to pre-Fergie days to remember exactly what this man has done for me, and every other United fan.
I love the man and always will – tainted legacy or not.
GBF – God Bless Fergie.
Ed,I think that you have got this very badly wrong. We have no idea as to what SAFs views are on the Glazers as people or their ‘business model’ or being Americans or their understanding of the EPL. Quite simply he has kept quiet because he either continues to manage United or he criticises the owners & resigns;it is either one or the other; he chose the former; thank goodness he did. I am no lover of the Glazers but have they interfered with football club & have they coughed up the cash when SAF has asked for it? Let’s be objective. Has the team been a reasonable success during the Glazer regime? Have the fans enjoyed watching them? Who is the success due to? Like it or not, to defend the term ‘lickspittle’ shows a lack of class.
ian – do you know what “lickspittle” means. Just a question. It’s not an insult, its a description. And if you understood that you wouldn’t have made this comment.
ed- you criticise me for throwing out another insult to your article yet you calling SAF a lickspittle was meant as an insult. but no doubt you will deny it!
i wish fans like you would fuck off and support chelsea, because to show a lack of respect towards SAF and pick away at silly little issues like this, is what fans like you deserve.
And that my friends is ‘realist’ all over. Glad you know my own mind better than I do. He still doesn’t know how to use a dictionary mind you – do yourself a favour and use one.
I hope Fergie reveals his true feelings about the Glazers after he has retired.
If the Glazers inability to keep servicing the loans hits the club and if Fergie continues to remain mum on the subject,then he might come under fire for his pro-Glazer comments in the past.
Ed. Misrepresentation? Interesting. If we disagree with you we’re stupid or liars apparently. I thought you said in the Cast that Fergie enabled the Glazers to take over and “backed it”, i.e. failed to stop it, criticize it, slag them. You disagree? Face it, lickspittle, sycophant, obsequious–would you like to be called any of these terms? If not, it’s disrespectful. SAF is not a god but he deserves better. If the site is about expressing views, then great. If those with opposing viewpoints (the majority view of posts in this thread, it seems) are going to be called names, then why is the site called United Rant?
Twisted – there you go again, big on trying to put words in my mouth. Fortunately this is all public and you’re making yourself look pretty foolish.
Where is it I called anyone “stupid or a liar”? Go on – quote me or apologise for deliberate misrepresentation. Then go and listen to the Rant Cast and point to the minute and second that I say Ferguson has ruined his legacy because he failed to “slag off his employers”. No, can’t find it? Then point to the bit where I “call people names”. Nothing on all three? Thought not.
You may disagree with me on what “lickspittle, sycophant, and obsequious” means. I think it’s a factual description. You may disagree with me on the whole Ferguson and the Glazers debate. You may disagree with my analysis on Ferguson’s comments that week. That’s fine, if I wanted or needed your support I wouldn’t run a public blog. But what is unacceptable is for you to put false words in my mouth. End of debate.
Ed, please, who are you trying to fool? To pretend that a “toady” or a “sycophant” is not an insult is silly. You miss my point entirely. I would guess SAF asked himself the question, “Can I … work … with these buggers, or not? I don’t like’em, they know fuck all about football, but can I work with ’em? If they interfere, I’m off. If they won’t stump up when I ask, I’m off”. It’s what’s called a business reltionship,not pretty, not perfect but it doesn’t need mutual love, but it definitely can’t have the mananger slagging off his boss. I’m certain it will all come out when he retires,but not before.
I think you miss the Point totally Ian, with the greatest respect!
I have a few friends that are United supporters that gave up their season tickets on and when the hostile take over was started and completed.
They saw what was coming.Gill’s comments debt in the Club is not good for United.Really?
Buddie the season ticket waiting list has vanished, they advertise to put Bums on seats all over the place now!
If you think its acceptable for Sir Alex to say to fans that supported the club prior to their massively leveraged buy out of United “Fuck off and support Chelsea” Its a contradiction?
As the article highlights which you clearly are not grasping, he does not need to endorse the Glazer, but neither does he need to support them.
I feel for my mates who invested in the Club and still do at away games for the Love of United.
No bugger is saying we dont love United.We just want a level playing field and to be told the truth.
The Glazer told the United fans we would be still have £20 million- £25 million to invest in new players each season! Where is this illusion of the Glazer, and Sir Alex does what? as far as I know its £2.1 Million pounds per season net!
Bring on the Spuds, and bring on the 20th of this month, more mirrors and smoke.
Sorry Ed.I know the post was directed at you!
is it fair to say that if SAF slagged off the Glazers and left we would be in a similar boat to `the murderers` as i write?
could he perhaps have stayed, masking his dislike of how things are are being handled, for the greater good, ie, you, me, all the proper reds and above all for the good of the club!!!! the one thing we all love.
Only time will tell what his real views are and OH bye the way, considering all of this the guy is a genius, NOT a lickspittle, disrespectful word to decribe a great man.
LUHG.
I dont think Fergie is a ‘lickspittle’ but even if he was, the Glazers are his boss. Its a bit unrealistic to ask him to come out and criticize them openly.
Mate I suggest you read the article! He does not need to support his buddies in football and as was indicated nepotism.
Nobody is asking for the manager to slag of the Glazer.
What he should not do is “support” them! as in the Glazer.
The fans invest more in Manchester United than the Glazer for them its a financial cow!The fans i know its a infatuation and a love of United.
Ed
You’re not really one to accept a bit of criticism are you?
Anyone disagrees with your posts you immediately adopt the “its my site i’ll do what i want” mentality.
Accept the fact that some people disagree with you.
gabagool says:
January 15, 2011 at 1:11 am
Ed
You’re not really one to accept a bit of criticism are you?
Anyone disagrees with your posts you immediately adopt the “its my site i’ll do what i want” mentality.
Accept the facts some people disagree with you.
We are just debating mate I cant recall were the moderator said that buddy?
Its just I agree on most things on here regards the Glazer and Sir Alex.We all acknowlege Sir Alex has brought many magnificent achievements to United there is zero question there!I wont list them mate, you know them as well as I.
Thats not me being a fawning underling! I can fight my corner regards the Glazer …..trust that!.
I love Sir Alex he means the world to me.United means more and the long term health of Manchester United.
RedScot / Gagagool – another trying to put words into my mouth. It’s a debate – am I not allowed to put an opposing point of view? Do I not publish all the comments that disagree with me? I simply wouldn’t run a public website if I couldn’t take disagreement and I’ve done this for nearly 7 years now. People don’t like it when I criticise Ferguson because of all the success he has brought to this club. Nobody is doubting that but I have never felt that he should be immune.
If I really had a “its my site I’ll do what I want mentality” I’d only publish those comments that agree with me. Fact is, I publish 99% of them because I don’t need to feel ‘supported’ – I do this because I enjoy the debate. Whether people agree or disagree.
Three things I won’t accept – people attempting to paint me black by deliberately and falsely misquoting or misrepresenting me. People making personal insults. People making threats. I think those rules are fair and I try to apply them as evenly as I can.
The fact is the Glazers do control United. In nearly every way that is bad news. What does SAF do? His job is to manage United. He does this job brilliantly. What does he say of the owners. “They let me get on with my job. They provide the money when I ask for it. I understand that some fans have problems; I have no problem with that if they support the team”. Who knows where the future lies? Would mega-buck Arabs from Quatar be any better? I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot if we do not enjoy the football while SAF is still around. Personally I bought shares in the club & hoped a Barca model of sindicos might be possible; it no longer is. I do not think SAF is beyond criticism; far from it. But his plans of buying & recruiting young players like the da Silvas, Hernandez & Smalling, even Rooney is the way ahead. Bloody hell, let’s get our priorities straight, enjoy it while it lasts.
@ Ian good post mate.? they provide me the money when I ask for it!? He does not see the need for a midfielder investment a proven World class midfielder?
I agree exchanging one Foreign investor for another is not for United in the long term!
Agreed he is brilliant at developing with his staff and scouts the young talent at United.
Lets see how we get on the Champions league? 😉
Where the Glazer fine buisness model is geared to!
Afraid the great man is very badly wrong if he thinks this midfield has anywhere near enough quality.
Ed – the jist of your article is that Fergie should come out and say the owners are wankers but that’s not realistic.
As much as your anti-Glazer articles are supported, the reality and only fact is that United have never been more successful under the Glazer tenure. The fact is that United have not gone into financial meltdown as predicted by you at least 5 years ago – the fact is that OT is not empty and when you compare with gat receipts in the EPL and Europe, very very competitive.
You have argued about there not being enough transfer cash yet you simply cannot prove that – on the other hand, not can it be disproven. You also argue that there is no value, or Fergie was wrong to suggest that, again cannot be proven or disproven
The only fact is that under Glazer ownership we have been successful – your financial conjecture having examined the books is just that. Speculation – but the undeniable fact is that United have been are currently are successful under Glazers.
It’s also really niaive to think that outside owners post-credit crisis are going to do United a favour and buy it cheap for the fans. This is why the White Knights was doomed to fail – there was no profit to be made at a 1.5bn price tag and they could not refinance the debt at a competitive rate.
Edwards sold out, so did JP McManus and Magnier. Murdoch only failed because of the UK competition authorities, which left the Glazers – and they own the business, teh franchise and so long as the product is good, they will be quids in.
Do you really think that even if OT gate receipts went down by 20%, that would make a difference. No, Glazers have been smart to diversify the United product so that more revenue is generated from overseas – this gives them less risk to Sterling and less risk to falling gate receipts and possibly TV rights in the UK.
It will only be a matter of time before United make more money from TV streaming to customers than gate receipts so they can afford a little stress at OT, so long as overseas revenue increases.
Debt levels in Europe have now peaked – there will be no double dip recessions – and the PIK has been refinanced. Add to that a solid position in the EPL, FA and UCL, things can only get better.
danni – so you’re another one desperate to put words into my mouth. Where in the article do I say that, when have I ever said it? No, let’s be really clear so everybody can understand and be sure that the next time anyone – you, ‘realist’ or anybody else – wants to tell me what I’m actually saying you’ll know what response you’ll get.
This article is about Ferguson’s hypocrisy – on the one hand blaming owners “from abroad” for sacking his friends prematurely, while on the other sycophantically praising the Glazers and profiting from the Qataris..
The end. I don’t suggest what Ferguson should do, I don’t talk about his success or the club’s. I am simply, and very clearly, pointing out the juxtaposition of Ferguson’s words.
The rest of your post is just another rant based not on this article but what you’d like to surmise as my position. That, frankly, is out of order and I’m pretty disappointed as a long time visitor to this site that you’d choose to do that. I don’t paraphrase your words. You shouldn’t do that to me either.
A very good post. Dislike of the Glazers, for many good reasons,has to be set against the success of the team & the club. I’m sorry to say, as long as the team is successful, they are not bad owners. Ed, what would … you … have liked SAF to do, as far as the Glazers are concerned? Appreciate that many fans have problems, but not make public criticisms? Criticise the owners in public & resign? I know SAF is disingeneous in ignoring a lousy business model, but what else can he do? That does not mean to say we as fans should not keep making our opinions clear. I wish I could believe your final sentence.
Ed, my response earlier disappeared as has been happening to me a lot lately (any word on getting that sorted? It’s a serious problem).
It’s well established that we have a different take on Fergie and the Glazers, fair enough that’s what the site is for. The only point I wanted to make is that in my opinion “lickspittle” is a pretty harsh term to use. It’s a synonym of sycophant, but it’s also much more insulting word. It would be like the difference between “fool” and “retard” maybe. I appreciate your point, I just don’t think Fergie deserves that degree of abuse.
wow…another thread or topic on rant that disappears and morphs into a completely different topic…..i cant wait to see Herbie come in and start spouting his fantasy football bollocks
Priceless
That last bit can only be true if things were as bad as they can be, so you seem to be arguing against yourself.
If you have enjoyed the football United have been playing most of last season and this, you have a much higher threshold for pain than I do.
Why?
If he thought they were a rubbish option as owners… why should he not say so?
First of all… YOU are underestimating Fergusons’ value to United fans.
If he’d really wanted to represent the club and the fans, he could have come out AGAINST the Glazers in public and the fans would have boycotted en masse… and driven them out.
But that’s irrelevent in this argument… the issue isn’t should he condemn the Glazers, (which I believe he should)… but should he at the very least say nothing at all… instead of actually PROMOTING their ownership.
THAT is the problem… The majority of fans DON’T want the Glazers and their buren of debt… and Ferguson has actively sided with the Glazers when the fans should have been able to count on his support in their dissent.
“Silly little issues”?
After that comment, any insult I could throw at you would be redundant .
Wrong.
Saying nothing is disappointing, but acceptable.
What isn’t acceptable… at least to me, and I expect many, many others, is when he actually publically supports them… The Glazers are parasites… there is no better explanation for their ownership. And Ferguson praises them for it.
That is NOT right.
I see… interesting that you say, “ALWAYS* slagging the great man off at the slightest opportunity”… so either you come here a lot, and would know the truth… in which case you’re a lying, shit stirring cunt… or, you seldom come here, in which case you don’t know what you’re talking about, therefore, you’re a lying, shit stirring cunt!
The fact is… Ferguson is regarded here, as the greatest manager that United have ever had… and one of the best ever, anywhere, in history… is he regarded higher than that somewhere else?
However… we’re not so naive, gullible, or just pig ignorant here, to recognise that Ferguson is not only, not perfect, but has inexcuseably thrown his weight BEHIND the Glazers, which is contrary to the wishes of the majority of United fans… that has cost him a lot of credit in some fans eyes. Obviously not yours, and that’s completely up to you. But don’t think your self-righteous indignation will impress anyone here… you just make yourself look a fool.
And a lying, shit stirring cunt!