Manchester United Football Club

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

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68174

Rio calm over Fergie exit plan

07 Jun 2008 - 13:10:59

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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand doesn't believe Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to retire within three years will destabilise the Old Trafford squad.

The veteran Scot recently revealed his intention to step down before he reaches his 70th birthday in 2011.

Ferguson's previous announcement that he planned to retire at the end of the 2001/02 campaign led to a downturn in United's fortunes.

However, Ferdinand doesn't believe the recently crowned Premier League and European champions will suffer the same fate this time around.

He also believes the departure of the long-serving manager will not necessarily signal the end of their recent successful period.

"Whenever the day comes, he'll be a big loss of course, but I won't be concerned about that until it actually happens," Ferdinand told The Sun.

"All I'm thinking about is what a great manager we have with us now - not about what's going to happen two or three years down the line.

"I won't be worrying about him leaving at all next season and I don't suppose the rest of the lads will be either.

"We will be talking about what we can achieve with the manager we've got.

"He's the best manager ever at a British club. He's won everything there is to win and is almost irreplaceable.

"When someone has to fill his shoes that person is going to have a massive job.

"But the boss has put such good foundations in place that I don't see why United should fall apart when he goes.

"The club will be preparing for it. It's not like he's going to get up and leave tomorrow.

"Things will be looked after properly. The boss has too much love for the club to just leave it in the lurch so I think it will be a smooth transition."