Ferguson seeks new United role

Alex Ferguson clarified his hopes for his personal future yesterday following a misleading report in a Sunday newspaper that stated he wanted to remain Manchester United manager beyond the two years left on his contract.

Ferguson does want to stay at Old Trafford and does not want to uproot from his Cheshire home, but he would like a role at United somewhere in between global ambassador and international co-ordinator.

"The way United are growing, it is becoming a very big organization," Ferguson told The Scotsman. "We already have alliances all over the world, in Cape Town, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, and many other places. We'll probably be venturing into Australia. I think there could be an opening for a co-ordinator, somebody who could take some of the duties I now have off the next head coach.

"I would like to travel and see certain places properly, like Australia, South America or China, where I've never been. In football we travel the world, but we don't get to see these places. Retirement for me would be about remaining just active enough to spread out the week. For example, two or three days' work and three or four days off to pursue other interests such as my racehorses."

Now 58, Ferguson's present contract expires in June 2002 and the thought of being a manager at 60 holds little enticement. "That is the last thing I want to do," he said. "The thing about retirement is that if you wait too long you won't be able to do the things you've talked about over the years, because you won't be fit to do them. Old age doesn't come alone."

As to United's immediate future, Ferguson admitted that he will have to buy another goalkeeper - he inquired about Fabien Barthez of Marseille - that Massimo Taibi, currently on loan to Reggina, is unlikely to return to Old Trafford, and that neither Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nor Andy Cole are for sale.