MANCHESTER UNITED SUPPORTERS’ Trust (MUST) head Duncan Drasdo expects “disquiet” among the club’s support after Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
The Scot revealed on Wednesday that he will bring his 27-year reign at Old Trafford to an end when the Premier League season reaches its conclusion on 19 May.
And MUST chief executive Drasdo believes fans will harbour fear over life after the 71-year-old, who has lifted 38 trophies during his time at United.
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“(Fans are) distraught, (there’s) utter despair,” he said. “People are immensely grateful to Sir Alex for what he has contributed and so first of all fans want to say thank you.
“But obviously there’s going to be a sense of disquiet and fear about what the future holds, who’s going to come in, are they going to be able to maintain anything like the success Sir Alex produced in the 27 years he was at Manchester United.”
Drasdo went on to claim that the news had been partly expected, especially considering Ferguson’s dismay following his side’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League this season.
“It wasn’t a total surprise,” he added. “Obviously we heard last night that it was very likely that this was going to be the big announcement. We’d also seen some signs that this was going to be Alex’s last season.
“I know it’s easy to say these things in retrospect but I certainly felt at the time when we saw him walking off the pitch after the Real Madrid game that he was totally distraught and you just felt that maybe that was the feeling that it was his last chance to win another European title.
“The other factor was that we’d been told by a pretty good source that when David Gill went that Sir Alex would go at the same time.”
Drasdo, whose organisation states “fan-ownership” as one of its main aims, also discussed the differing qualities of the two men most strongly linked with replacing Ferguson.
“I think it’s a straight toss up between (David) Moyes and (Jose) Mourinho and certainly you can see a logic to either of them,” he continued.
“Mourinho is obviously a supremely confident manager, confident in his own ability – some would feel too much at times. He could walk into any football club in the world and feel he could take on that job no matter who had been in there before him.
“Then there’s the other model which would be someone like Moyes, who you might say is cut from the same cloth as Sir Alex. You would see that they would have a close relationship where Moyes would feel comfortable talking to Sir Alex, learning from him, particularly when you’re talking about moving onto the European stage where does haven’t experience. You could make arguments for both of them.”
Evans average,so too carrick,kagawa,smalling,valencia,rafeal,nani,welbeck,cleverly,not a world beater among them,rio vidic scholes giggs and evra not in their prime either….poision chalace doesnt begin to describe it!
The same Evans that’s being lauded all over the media? Carrick, who’s fellow professionals voted as one of the top two midfielders in the league? Jones, who’s being touted as a future captain for club and country? Kagawa, the 24 year old with no English, but 3 titles in 3 years?
Poisoned chalice? Jog on!
David, your defending your team on so many fronts today, so many different columns in the journal today…. its feels like arguing over guns safer than pac man, frustrating even though answer is obvious….
If you look at the other contenders in the prem your Chelsea and your Man City, they have the better starting team to united I just fear that United could slip down the slippery slope that Liverpool have, but as I’ve said before next season will be vital.
If any United fan expects continued success like the last decade then they’re more delusional than I thought. Ferguson was absolutely the best of all time in my opinion, and nobody will be able to emulate what he has done.
And in all fairness it’s not one of the best squads in the world. I’d take City or Chelsea’s midfield ahead of United’s any day.
If I’m brutally honest I’d expect United to finish 3rd/4th next year, with only chance of silverware a cup. It will be near impossible for anyone to keep that team where they are now in my opinion…
There’s no way we’ll be as dominant again, isn’t possible, we’ve been spoiled rotten under Fergie. However, we won’t be going away, young hungry squad with bags of potential. I’d disagree with you over our squad too. I think city and Chelsea have better 11′s but that the depth and quality of our squad won us the title.
I’m under no illusion that United wont be as dominant as they have been, but the players are still there, they are quite talented after all, and the manager, who’s not going to be able to match Fergie, won’t be a mug.
United will be top 3 at worst next season.
Hahaha. You lot make me laugh, United have the best squad in the premier league. They mighy not have oscars, hazards and toures of the league but they have unity , experience and a lot of medals.
Im looking forward to yer excuses when we will continue to be successful, let me start ye off #1 Sure he won the league with Fergies team. :-)
Duncan drasdo is a fool, always has been. Lives the limelight. Manchester United is a club in prime condition to dominate for years to come. Mid fielder ,a left back and a right sided player and there ya go king davey
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Evans average,so too carrick,kagawa,smalling,valencia,rafeal,nani,welbeck,cleverly,not a world beater among them,rio vidic scholes giggs and evra not in their prime either….poision chalace doesnt begin to describe it!
The same Evans that’s being lauded all over the media? Carrick, who’s fellow professionals voted as one of the top two midfielders in the league? Jones, who’s being touted as a future captain for club and country? Kagawa, the 24 year old with no English, but 3 titles in 3 years?
Poisoned chalice? Jog on!
David, your defending your team on so many fronts today, so many different columns in the journal today…. its feels like arguing over guns safer than pac man, frustrating even though answer is obvious….
I have commented in 3 articles, you’ve commented on the same articles.
Whether it turns out to be good or bad for UTD it certainly will be an interesting few months!
If you look at the other contenders in the prem your Chelsea and your Man City, they have the better starting team to united I just fear that United could slip down the slippery slope that Liverpool have, but as I’ve said before next season will be vital.
If any United fan expects continued success like the last decade then they’re more delusional than I thought. Ferguson was absolutely the best of all time in my opinion, and nobody will be able to emulate what he has done.
And in all fairness it’s not one of the best squads in the world. I’d take City or Chelsea’s midfield ahead of United’s any day.
If I’m brutally honest I’d expect United to finish 3rd/4th next year, with only chance of silverware a cup. It will be near impossible for anyone to keep that team where they are now in my opinion…
There’s no way we’ll be as dominant again, isn’t possible, we’ve been spoiled rotten under Fergie. However, we won’t be going away, young hungry squad with bags of potential. I’d disagree with you over our squad too. I think city and Chelsea have better 11′s but that the depth and quality of our squad won us the title.
Time is a good yard stick,might have to jog your memory this time next year mate
I’m under no illusion that United wont be as dominant as they have been, but the players are still there, they are quite talented after all, and the manager, who’s not going to be able to match Fergie, won’t be a mug.
United will be top 3 at worst next season.
Hahaha. You lot make me laugh, United have the best squad in the premier league. They mighy not have oscars, hazards and toures of the league but they have unity , experience and a lot of medals.
Im looking forward to yer excuses when we will continue to be successful, let me start ye off #1 Sure he won the league with Fergies team. :-)
Chelsea, Man u and probably Man city with new managers should make for an interesting season ahead
Was actually commending your support, not putting you down…
Duncan drasdo is a fool, always has been. Lives the limelight. Manchester United is a club in prime condition to dominate for years to come. Mid fielder ,a left back and a right sided player and there ya go king davey