Gill: Ferguson is sackable

March 22, 2005

MANCHESTER United chief executive David Gill has turned the heat on Sir Alex Ferguson by insisting the long-serving Red Devils chief `is sackable'.

Unless Chelsea suffer a dramatic slump in fortunes over the next eight games, United will fail to win the Premier League title in successive seasons for the first time since the competition was formed in 1992.

Having also been dumped out of the Champions League at the first knock-out stage for the second campaign running, Ferguson's position is under more scrutiny than it has been since the dark days of the late 1980s.

The Scot is due to move onto a new rolling one-year contract, which can be terminated at 12 months' notice by either party, in the summer.

With eight league titles, five FA Cups and a European Cup on his Old Trafford CV, it was widely assumed the 63-year-old would be the one who decided when his United career would be terminated.

But while Gill stressed there has never been any suggesting that Ferguson could be shown the door, he admitted no-one at the club is beyond dismissal.

"He is sackable," Gill told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We live in a very pressurised sport. The pressure will be on next season and we wouldn't want that pressure not to be there.

"But (removing the manager) is not something that has entered our discussions at boardroom level. It would be detrimental to the club to make a knee-jerk reaction for not winning the league for a second season in a row.

"The manager's record is second to none, we still have a chance of winning a major trophy this season in the FA Cup, and we are very positive about the future."

What do you make of Gill's comments? Have your say.

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Lee Speed - Red blood in the veins, Shell UK (22/03/2005 at 09:35)

Good on Gill !! About time some pressure was put on Fergie. We're going backwards each year.... FEGIE OUT OUT OUT OUT - Steve Bruce in NOW before it's too late....

Steve, Elgin, Scotland (22/03/2005 at 09:35)

Results matter! Look at Real Madrid, they sack coaches if they ONLY win the Spanish championship! And after today's stock market announcements, it seems as though there isnt going to be much money to strengthen a stale squad in the close season. Maybe it would be a good time to have a wholesale change- but the danger is always that we go the way of that team along the East Lancs Road! It will be an interesting season next year!

Lee Speed - Red blood in the veins, Shell UK (22/03/2005 at 09:35)

Good on Gill !! About time some pressure was put on Fergie. We're going backwards each year.... FERGIE OUT OUT OUT OUT - Steve Bruce in NOW before it's too late....

We need some silverware ....

Paul, Birmingham (22/03/2005 at 09:37)

Whilst it would be a mockery for United to sack their most successful manager ever I do want SAF to seriously consider his position and step aside. There have been too many bad decisions since he announced in 2001 that he would retire. The side is not playing top quality football and hasn't been for four consecutive seasons. Arsenal were clearly playing better football than we did for the last three years and this year Chelski have moved the upped the standard again in terms of ruthlessly winning nearly ever game. It's too late for tired ideas. We need someone with imagination and a point to prove.

John Williams, Stretford (22/03/2005 at 10:01)

Come on Sir Alex thanks for
the memories but football has changed in the last few years & what we've been given is
not what we should have as the worlds biggest club we
have suffered failure in the last 2 seasons lets be honest !
Some of the signings & his brothers scouting activities are suspect to say the least.
Come on down Martin O Neill

Andy Cooper, Birmingham (22/03/2005 at 10:01)

Well, this is something new! It seems that the poodle has teeth after all... I would imagine we can now expect Phil Neville or David Meek to be wheeled out to tell us how Fergie is, in fact, God.
It will be interesting to see how this one develops - maybe Gill is just sabre-rattling because of the whole Glazer affair, or maybe the tide is really turning at last!

george, rhyl (22/03/2005 at 10:10)

The level of expectation is massively high now.Would anyone do any better.Chelsea would still have their money.
It may be worth experimenting with dropping Keane Scholes Giggs and seeing if a more youthful midfield could handle it.It's sad but perhaps for the best. Presumably they're in the team 'cos there's no one better or is it?

Sally Bird, Oldham (22/03/2005 at 10:12)

If Fergie had been in any other buisness,he would have been forced to retire.Its quite obvious to all that the man has lost his marbles.
When fans pay so much to watch under achievers like lazy bones Giggs and Scholes who cant pass to his own team these days,Keane will be playing with a zimmer frame.
He used the clubs money to buy players he does not play Smith,Saha,Kleberson a manager should stand or fall on his decisions.Fergie has fallen.Not only that United now play boring rubbish football.

Peter, Cheshire (22/03/2005 at 10:17)

Good to see that the comments so far are in favour of Gill even though some of them are a bit OTT against Fergie. I listened to the Five Live interview and Gill was pushed into a corner to say the obvious - a rolling contract means that either side can call time on it more easily. Fergie is an employee and all employees - including Gill - can be asked to leave in certain circumstances. Let's hope the Reds do better than the last time they had to replace a retiring successful Scottish manager!!

Keith, Manchester (22/03/2005 at 10:30)

"Are you City in disguise???!!!!!"

nigel sykes, salford (22/03/2005 at 10:41)

Gill says the FA cup is still a big one to win. but still have to win it yet and united did more to harm the FA cup, when they went to brazil

Balti, Manc (22/03/2005 at 10:47)

I heard this interview this morning on the radio and it has been blown out of all proportion. Nicky Campbell basically bullied Gill in to saying that Fergie was sackable and nothing should be read in this nonsense.

Fred the red, Manchester (22/03/2005 at 11:04)

Well , I have been saying for some time that since 2001 we have been going backwards. Get this lot out and forward with Glazer! Who is with me now? I can't wait to hear from the Fergie is god brigade!

Glasgow Blue, London (22/03/2005 at 11:08)

Sack Taggart Now.

Pete, Chorlton (22/03/2005 at 11:25)

This a non-story. Of course, Fergie is sackable. Should he be sacked? No. Every season he is accused of 'losing the plot'. He always responds. MUFC NOt 4 $ALB#.

Nose to Mouth, Denton. (22/03/2005 at 11:56)

When the money keeps rolling in,while will United change anything.Fergie never plays the same team twice so how can they play like a team.Brian Clougth was a great manager Fergie was a good one but not fitting for a club so large.One Champions League final in 18 yrs is a joke he spent millions and sold two of our best players.Fergie should be sacked.

RJKS (City Fan !), Stretford (22/03/2005 at 12:02)

MuPLC !

Joe Lewis, London (22/03/2005 at 12:04)

Oh dear we only made 12m profit and may only win the FA Cup
get real folks, there are 3/4 pieces of silverware to play for each year and no guarantee of winning any of them
Of course he is sackable
I'm sure Fergie will know when to go and will do so, but to suggest he should go now is nonsense, the team needed rebuilding and that is what he is doing, or do we want to give an ageing team to the next manager as we did with Sir Matt then endure ages of not getting it right, patience keep the faith

oh and by the way Fry no betetr than Bartez/Carroll etc

leave_me_alone, malaysia (22/03/2005 at 12:17)

geez...u lots are spoilt hopeless chaps...this is sad and unthinkable..its fergie that gives us the privilege to stay on top..if it wasnt him, we wouldnt be here..involved in title race competitively in almost every season ( or calling for his head?) the day the board sack fergie..is the day i stop supporting man utd..i know mufc is not = fergie, but sackign the most successful manager in the club history just reflects how short sighted and not grateful the club is..pathetic.......

Mary, Sale (22/03/2005 at 12:20)

Joe if the team needed rebuiding,thats down to Fergie he should have brought more players instead of waiting til we lost our edge.Why do people keep backing Fergie any manager with the same resources would have done as well if not better.

Steveo, Lecale (22/03/2005 at 12:31)

Just reading the "sack him now" comments are the City fans that desperate for a good coach, saying they seem to pick the man who crumbles under pressure every time, no wonder thry're jealous. Fergie will probably only stay for a year or more ( if he wins some siverware) Fergie will stay manager untill O'Neill is ready to come south, and Sir Alex has left him with the tools to succeed, when he does in about two years.

Harris, ex crumpsallite now Sweden (22/03/2005 at 12:42)

The bottom line is that eventually, if the lack of success continues( not winning the CL or EPL) then the bottom line will decree the end of SAF.

Pie in the Sky, Audenshaw, Manchester (22/03/2005 at 12:45)

Listen to this....this is a City Fan speaking.....Fergie stay, please Mr Gill don't sack him or make him leave. While Fergie remains at United they will go on as they are and won't win anything again next year or the year after that!!

Mrs Brown, Southport (22/03/2005 at 12:52)

Yes even the Doc won the poxy FA Cup we pay good money and expect the results.

Duncan, London (22/03/2005 at 13:12)

There are no coaches around that will walk in and achieve what SAF has achieved. I believe he needs at least one more season - I personally would give him two to turn it around and make clear what "turn it around" means - i.e., winning the premiership or CL. Sell to Glazer? Now that's one way to turn a drama into a crisis.

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