Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford without saying goodbye to the fans after Manchester United’s last home game of the season.
By tradition, in more successful seasons anyway, the United manager takes to the pitch with a microphone at the end of a campaign and thanks the fans for their support. There would have been little point on Tuesday because most supporters left after the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea without saying goodbye to Ferguson or even waiting for the players’ lap of honour, but the manager has the chance to say a proper farewell at the end of Saturday’s FA Cup final.
It was a Cup final that properly started the Ferguson era at Old Trafford — the manager has frequently said he would not have been granted much more time in the job had he not managed to guide United to Wembley success in 1990 — and 15 glorious years later a Cup final would be a fitting occasion on which to bring an era to an end.
Ferguson, to paraphrase advice given to some of his countrymen after a spectre had joined the feast, should not stand upon the order of his going, but go at once. If he can inspire his United side to one last hurrah against Arsenal in Cardiff, so much the better. But even if a disappointing season ends in another defeat, Ferguson would be better walking away with his dignity intact and the gratitude of supporters ringing in his ears.
Not because Fergie the socialist and son of Govan would find it unacceptable to work for a Florida-based speculator as aggressively profit-minded as Malcolm Glazer. There has been a suggestion that Ferguson might quit on principle, having publicly opposed the takeover in November last year, and that citing ideological differences might offer a convenient way out of a difficult situation.
But that would be to join the effigy-burners in the street in ducking the issue. Fergie the socialist did not mind Manchester United becoming a publicly listed company in 1991 and he did not mind the money and the clout that went with it.
United have been up for sale every day since then, and Ferguson’s statement that ”we don’t want the club in anyone else’s hands” was as hollow as the sit-down protest by supporters outside the stadium this week.
The main reason Fergie should go now is the old one, the obvious one. He should have gone three years ago. He was telling everyone he wanted to go three years ago and while there is a residual appreciation at United for what he achieved over almost two decades in charge, Ferguson is deluding himself if he thinks he is getting closer to recapturing success rather than farther away.
That matters more now because the main problem with Glazer owning United, as opposed to any other predatory tycoon, is that he has insufficient funds to complete the take-over without massive borrowing, the cost of which will have to be borne by the club.
United will therefore go from a debt-free, tidily run organisation to the more familiar model of a cash-conscious club on a careful tightrope, with an eye on the overdraft at all times. Not like Leeds United, in all probability, but quite like Arsenal, whose new stadium will put them heavily into debt for the next few years. Yet, at this point, Manchester United do not want to be like Arsenal. They need to be like Chelsea.
It is well accepted that benevolent autocrats such as Roman Abramovich do not come along every day, but with a few tweaks here and there and a few more million spent on the team, Manchester United as constructed at present could probably improve on their efforts to catch Chelsea next season. United with a new owner, a disenchanted fan base and £300-million of debt have no chance. This will not only be obvious to Ferguson, but to whoever the Glazers line up to replace him.
Whatever the Glazers’ plans for United, they are likely to be mid- to long-term. It will probably not bother the Americans that much if United trail in behind Chelsea again next season, or fail to reach the final of the Champions League, but because of the limited time left to him it will matter enormously to Ferguson.
The bottom line is that Ferguson will have to go anyway in the foreseeable future and this is an opportunity for a clean break. Ferguson surely does not want to wait until he is pushed out, either by frustrated fans or know-nothing Americans. A manager’s job is essentially about taking decisions and recognising when the time has come to make a decision.
Alternatively, should stubborn pride lead him to stay on, he can get right back to work after the Cup final in trying to persuade Rio Ferdinand to sign his new, five-year, £30-million contract. If Ferdinand has any sense, which is debatable, he will put pen to paper pronto. Such luxurious offers could go out of fashion more quickly than hair braids once the new owners get their feet under the Old Trafford table.
United’s original offer was predicated on a pre-Glazer level of solvency. Unless the deal is tied up quickly Ferguson could find himself in an argument with the Glazers over whether Ferdinand is worth £30-million over five years.
Ferguson would insist that he is and the leprechaun and his Palm Beach pals would suggest that he is not, doubtless pointing out his dismal record in failing to observe drug testers or speed limits and his ongoing dalliance with Chelsea.
Now, here is where it gets interesting. If those same Manchester United fans burning season-ticket- renewal forms and boycotting United merchandise responded honestly to the same question, more of them would side with Glazer than Ferguson. Who said these Yanks know nothing about football? — Â