Source: Team_Talk
Ferguson: I will help pick successor
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have a major say in deciding who should succeed him when he ends his long reign at Old Trafford.[LNB] United chief executive David Gill has pledged Ferguson's advice will be sought when the Scot decides to stand down, but insists there have been no indications that such a decision is likely to come soon.[LNB]"We don't know when Alex is going to retire and long may he continue," Gill told The Independent.[LNB]But when he does decide to retire, 68-year-old Ferguson, who has spent 23 years in charge of United, is set to be joined by Sir Bobby Charlton on a selection panel as the club seek a man capable of following him and maintaining the high levels of achievement.[LNB]"It will be discussed with Alex, Bobby Charlton and the owners," Gill said.[LNB]"I think Alex will be the key. He knows people. He will have a big role in advising and being a sounding board. I am sure we will talk with the owners and look at who is there and determine who we would like to appoint.[LNB]"It would be remiss of us not to use the expertise and knowledge that we have."[LNB]Gill declined to discuss the names of those managers likely to be in contention, and given the decision could still be several years away any existing shortlist could change dramatically.[LNB]He described Jose Mourinho as "a winner", as his record, not only in the past season with Inter Milan, only serves to demonstrate.[LNB]However United would not welcome any approach from the Portuguese manager for striker Wayne Rooney once Mourinho takes charge at Real Madrid.[LNB]Mourinho is a long-time admirer of the former Everton player, and told Spanish sports newspaper AS: "I would like to train Rooney, both as a player and how their mentality. But my friend Ferguson can rest easy because it is impossible."[LNB]Gill suggested United would discuss a new contract for Rooney, and dismissed the notion of the England forward moving to the Bernabeu.[LNB]"He won't go there. He won't want to go there. There may be some noise around it. I don't care," Gill said.
