FERGIE SLAMS UNITED FANS

"They (the fans) felt they were responsible for stopping the BSkyB deal, which is not true. Absolutely not. They may have made their voice heard but they were not responsible. It was the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) that stopped that.

"They carried on to the degree where they actually thought they should have a say in the running of the football club."

Just imagine that! The people who pay his wages wanting input into the running of THEIR club! Meanwhile, his comments on the MMC fly in the face of the MMC's own acknowledgment at the time of the role the fans played in the blocking of the takeover. And it all sort of ignores the fact that Ferguson was in regular contact with – offering support – to those who were fighting the Sky takeover, but sadly he didn't have the balls to come out and say so publicly.

Meanwhile Ferguson has more criticism in the same book:

"I'm sorry about that [the formation of FC United]. It is a bit sad that part, but I wonder just how big a United supporter they are.

"They seem to me to be promoting or projecting themselves a wee bit rather than saying `at the end of the day the club have made a decision, we'll stick by them.' It's more about them than us."

Ferguson also reveals that anti-Glazer supporters had phoned him and urged him to resign when the takeover occurred:

"They seemed to forget that I have brought at least ... well, I've brought everybody here! The likes of Les Kershaw has been with me 18 years, Dave Bushell, Jim Ryan, Tony Whelan, Paul McGuinness, Mike Phelan, Brian McClair, they have been here with me virtually from the beginning, or at least over 10 or 12 years and I said `What happens to my staff if I go?' I feel that I have a responsibility to them.

"Need them to stay in a job, not me. So, therefore, there was a lot of hot air and a lot of unfair criticism because nobody actually knew the people. I can understand people thinking they have to protect the club, and I am fully aware of that, but all these protests should have been done when they went plc.

"That was the time to protest because thereafter Manchester United was never going to be the same."

An FC United spokesperson said of the comments:

"It's sad that Ferguson has chosen to make these comments because a war of words does no-one any good.

"When David Gill made similar comments it was easier to dismiss, but it hard to swallow when it comes from Sir Alex, who as a previous champion of supporters' rights should have a better understanding of the situation.

"The situation is that whether fans stopped going to Old Trafford on a point of principle or because they could no longer afford the prices, they did so with a heavy heart and remain Manchester United supporters. Those supporters deserve better than this."

IMUSA commented:

"Fergie is turning into the Marie Antoinette of Old Trafford, because the stuff he is coming out with is tantamount to saying `Let them eat cake.'

"Everyone associated with United has taken money out of the football club. The only people who have constantly given to it are the fans, and that gives them the right to have a say as to how the club is run."

Given Fergie's comments it's strange that he didn't just accept Coolmore's decision on his horse with a meek `at the end of the day they have made a decision, I'll stick by them.' And when it comes to questioning how loyal some United fans are, well none of them ever threatened to walk out on the club the day before an FA Cup final against Liverpool did they? But of course Ferguson was entitled to do just that because it was about the thing closest to his heart – how much money he could get out of the club.

Meanwhile, his ludicrous comments about “his staff” ignore the fact that he didn't care much for leaving them in the lurch when he was due to retire in 2002, and also appear to betray a fear that they wouldn't be able to hack it in a post-Ferguson world. Why's that then, would no one else be stupid enough to employ them?