Ferguson urges clubs to keep the faith

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes club owners must show more faith in their managers in order to achieve success.

Ferguson is the longest serving manager in English football after 24 years at Old Trafford.

The 68-year-old Scotsman is an outspoken critic of the revolving door policy that characterises many managerial appointments in the modern game, pointing to his own successful tenure and that of rival Arsene Wenger.

“I’ve made the point many times over the years that there is no evidence that sacking a manager gives you success,” Ferguson said.

“But there is some evidence in the case of Arsene and myself, and Brian Clough, that longevity can bring you success and continuity.”

“Continuity of staff, consistency of the way things are and, I think, in the case of ourselves and Arsenal with Arsene, there is good evidence of that. We are the dinosaurs.”

Ferguson’s comments come in the week that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley replaced Chris Hughton with Alan Pardew on a five-and-a-half-year contract, despite the team’s generally impressive performance upon their return to the English Premier League.

“There will be a point, surely, when a lot of clubs will realise that giving their manager a length of time works,” Ferguson said.

“For instance, I hope that Alan Pardew gets his 5? years at Newcastle because that will be a sure indication that they (the owners) are confident in him.”

“They are giving him trust and five years to mould Newcastle his own way and, hopefully for them, bring some success.”

“That is a good sign, but we need leaders not just from a management point of view, we also need leaders in the boardroom who are prepared to show the way.”