A MINI FERGIE

Last updated : 26 November 2002 By editor
Paul Hince in the Men

AS this seems to be the open season for picking Sir Alex Ferguson's
successor, I might as well chuck in my twopence's worth and put another name
forward for the earnest consideration of the Manchester United directors.

My candidate is a Scot. He's got a short-fused temper which can blow at the
drop of a hat.He thinks all referees are fatherless, short-sighted and never add on enough injury time when his side are losing.

Hang on a minute - this is Sir Taggart I'm describing.

No. It's not the Fiery One. My man isn't a Knight of the Realm. His hair
isn't - rather fetchingly - tinged with grey at the temples like Fergie's.
My man's hair perfectly matches his temper in that its flaming red.

You must have got it by now. That's right, Gordon Strachan of Southampton. A
pocket-sized version of Ferguson himself.

And as good a candidate as any I've seen nominated to take charge of the Old
Trafford empire when Sir Alex does finally stride off into the sun-set to
tend his gladioli in the gardens of "Dunroamin" in picturesque Wilmslow.
But the quality which shines out from Strachan above all others is the very
one which has made Fergie - and his United team - the best in the business
for the past decade.

It is an ability which no coaching manual can teach you and it's called
man-motivation.

Players WANT to play for Alex Ferguson and players WANT to play for Gordon
Strachan.

If wee Strachan can make an international player out of Beattie and
transform a team of perpetual under-achievers like Southampton into a
top-ten Premiership outfit, what would he achieve if he ever got his hands
on the millions of pounds worth of talent that Fergie will one day hand over
to his successor at Old Trafford?
If I was a Manchester United fan, my mouth would be watering at the
prospect.