"Fergie made a big mistake when he announced he would retire at the end of last season and then changed his mind. I still believe that he should have stuck to his decision to make a clean break from the game. Managers who have won all there is to win should not hang around any longer than is necessary."
Clough added: "Alex Ferguson might have been better advised to stick to his retirement plan instead of volunteering himself to be shot at for another year or two. It would be heartbreaking to see him abused from all angles should things not go according to his plans. "But that is the risk he takes by staying in the trenches."