Moyes insists longevity and stability vital for success

Manchester United manager David Moyes insists stability and longevity are the magic ingredient for the most successful clubs.

Amazingly, of England’s 92 professional clubs, only 44 have a manager who has been in place longer than a year.

Just eight have been in place more than three and in the past few days, Steve Clarke and Andre Villas-Boas lost their jobs at West Brom and Tottenham respectively, whilst Gianfranco Zola resigned at Watford.

It makes Moyes feel immensely grateful in his previous jobs at Preston and Everton he was afforded the time to implement his ideas, a situation virtually certain to continue during his time at United.

"We are in a world where jobs change very quickly," he said. "I don't think that is right.

Stability and longevity
"The most successful clubs have had stability and longevity in their managers. That existed here with Alex Ferguson and look what Arsene Wenger has done at Arsenal as well."

Evidently, a fear factor is spreading across the game at the prospect of missing out on valuable income.

Those worries can be exacerbated by headstrong owners, who having injected their money into clubs, then undermine the man paid to select the team.

Cardiff is one such case, with owner Vincent Tan yet again clashing with manager Malky Mackay on Monday over comments made about the January transfer window.

The long-term approach at United means Moyes has not come under additional pressure following a troubled start to his reign, during which he has so far suffered five Premier League defeats, and has now seen reports emerge that Robin van Persie is considering his future.

Currently sidelined by a thigh strain, there have been rumours Van Persie is not impressed by Moyes. Now it is claimed the back-to-back Golden Boot winner, who inspired United to their 20th league title in his debut campaign, has allowed his advisers to speak with some of Europe's top clubs.

Reacted angrily
Moyes recently reacted angrily when it was suggested by Mark Lawrenson, someone he knows well through their Preston connection, that Van Persie had asked for a move, branding it as nonsense.

However, he could do without more potential for unrest given his side have just secured successive victories – and back-to-back clean sheets for only the second time this season – and if they beat Stoke at the Britannia Stadium tonight, they will have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to.

The competition has proved important down the years. It was Jose Mourinho’s first trophy as Chelsea manager, whilst when United won it in 2006, beating Wigan in the final, it was a significant landmark in the major rebuilding job undertaken by Ferguson following Roy Keane’s departure.

“I am desperate to get to Wembley,” said Moyes. “I want to be seen as someone who has been successful and won trophies.”