SIR Alex Ferguson believes this season's Premier League will turn into a two-horse race.

The United manager admits the Big Four's monopoly of the Champions League places is coming  under growing pressure - but he only sees United and Chelsea as realistic contenders for the big prize.

"I had a feeling about there being a change last season. The top teams are losing games and more points than ever through the early part of the season," said Ferguson.

"That gives rise to the hope that it could be a very competitive league. But my experience tells me that two teams break away towards the last part of the season."

The Scot believes the much-prised fourth Champions League slot is far harder predict, with four clubs chasing the tails of Liverpool and Arsenal.

"I could toss a coin and that could be my best chance of deciding who could break into the top four out of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City with all the money they have," added the Reds boss.

"That's a difficult competition in itself and any one of them is capable of doing that."

Ferguson was speaking at an inaugural dinner of the League Managers' Association Hall of Fame 1000 club, celebrating those who have managed more than 1,000 domestic league or cup matches.

The English leagues have boasted 18 such managers, including the late Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Robson, Brian Clough and Alec Stock.

Hair-trigger

Ten surviving members were present at the Hilton hotel in London, with Ferguson joined by Dave Bassett, Steve Coppell, Brian Horton, Lennie Lawrence, Harry Redknapp, Denis Smith, Jim Smith, Graham Turner and Neil Warnock.

Ferguson also admitted football had been taken over by a new breed of chairmen and owners with a hair-trigger for sacking managers.

With his son Darren sacked as Peterborough manager earlier this month, despite leading the club to back-to-back promotions, Ferguson said: "It's a different world we're in now.

"Managers were always sacked but in most cases there was a reasonable cause. A run of bad results. But I remember Peter Reid was sacked after five games at Manchester City at the start of the season.

"Ruud Gullit was sacked a few games into one of his seasons at Newcastle. There is an instant response from chairmen which has been unusual in recent years.

"We have a new breed of chairmen and new owners. We have Americans, Chinese, Russians. How they achieved their money is not what football is used to.

"The sudden wealth [has brought] the quick reaction of chairmen to what happens on the football field."