Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Fergie slams league chiefs

08 Feb 2008 - 14:13:10

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has taken a swipe at the Premier League after not being consulted over their proposal to introduce an 'international round' of fixtures.

Ferguson refused to offer his opinion as to whether he thought the plan to play an extra round of fixtures on foreign soil from the 2010-11 campaign onwards was a good idea.

But the veteran Scot hit out at the league powerbrokers for their haste in the timing of the announcement, without discussing the proposal with leading managers.

"What disappoints me is (United chief executive) David Gill phoned me and said 'keep this quiet, we're going to discuss it' and then it's all over the papers this morning," he said.

"They can't keep their mouth shut down there.

"I think if they're going to do these things they should have been enquiring and having discussions with managers and players before they come out with all this stuff and make an issue of it.

"These issues should be discussed internally by clubs before they come to this position we're in today, but until I speak to David Gill again I've nothing more to say about it."

Meanwhile, opinion among Premier League managers to the proposal to play ten games in one weekend in January at a host of venues across North America, Asia and Australia has largely been divided.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane and Reading counterpart Steve Coppell have voiced their support for the initiative which aims to increase the global exposure of the English top-flight.

However, several other dissenting voices, including Harry Redknapp of Portsmouth and Wigan's Steve Bruce, have voiced their concern at the plan which is expected to be discussed further by Premier League chairmen in the summer.

The overseas fixtures could generate an estimated additional £5million for each of the 20 top-flight clubs.