Source: Daily Star (no online content)by NEIL JOHNSTON
SIR ALEX FERGUSON has launched an amazing attack on breakaway Manchester United fans who opposed Malcolm Glazer’s Old Trafford takeover.
Ferguson has labelled the rebels ‘selfpublicists’ for forming FC United – the club set up by fans who opposed Glazer’s hostile Old Trafford takeover.
The United boss, who has previously stayed silent on the subject, also revealed he was bombarded with phone calls from anti-Glazer supporters urging him to quit at the height of last summer’s controversy.
Ferguson’s outburst has sparked a war of words with FC United last night branding the Scot’s comments ‘sad’.
In a new book, The Official Manchester United Diary of the Season, Ferguson said: “I wonder just how big a United supporter they are.
“They seem to me to be promoting or projecting themselves a wee bit rather than saying ‘at the end of the day the club have made a decision, we’ll stick by them’.”
Fergie said the prospect of leaving his backroom staff in the lurch was the main reason he did not quit.
But the United boss added: “They seemed to forget that I have brought at least, well, I’ve brought everybody here!
“Les Kershaw has been with me 18 years, Dave Bushell, Jim Ryan, Tony Whelan, Paul McGuinness, Mike Phelan, Brian McClair, they have been with me virtually
FERGUSON: Rap for fans from the beginning or at least over 10 or 12 years.
“I said ‘What happens to my staff if I go?’ I feel that I have a responsibility to them.”
Last night, a spokesman for North West Counties First Division leaders FC United hit back at Fergie.
He said: “It’s sad that Ferguson has chosen to make these comments because a war of words does no one any good.
“When David Gill made similar comments it was easier to dismiss.
“But it is hard to swallow when it comes from Sir Alex, who as a previous champion of supporters’ rights should have a better understanding of the situation.”
Meanwhile, Norway coach Aage Hareide has sparked a row by dropping United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the bench for tonight’s game against Moldova.
The striker scored twice in the 4-1 win over Hungary on Saturday but it has been claimed he has been left out to keep Ferguson happy after he expressed doubts about the player resuming his international career.
Hareide justified the move by the fact that Solskjaer, 33, was just back from a knee injury that kept him out for nearly two years. “He has to be used sensibly after his long injury,” said Hareide.
Ferguson was upset Solskjaer had even been named in the squad for the qualifiers.
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