Shareholders' fury over Sir Alex

Happier times: Ferguson celebrates another league title

Manchester United's army of small shareholders have condemned the club's board for "forcing" Sir Alex Ferguson to sever all ties with Old Trafford at the end of next season.

And Shareholders United hope they can persuade Ferguson to rethink his threat to quit the club for good when his reign as manager comes to an end.

"We feared this would happen and the board should hang their heads in shame," said Shareholders United spokesman Oliver Houston.

But Houston does not think the fear that Ferguson would cast a shadow of the club - the so-called Matt Busby Syndrome - should even come into the equation where Ferguson is concerned.

"The supposed Busby Syndrome is a smokescreen as any successor was going to have to have had the strength of character to work with him far more than be in the shadow of Ferguson.

"Instead we believe the plc feared giving Sir Alex a role with any real status or power because of his view that football should be more about supporters and local communities than just marketing and merchandising.

"He is highly regarded in the City and much loved on the terraces.

"Anything Shareholders United can do to reverse this terrible state of affairs we will do."

Shareholders United stage regular meetings with the club's board and will use their status as the voice of the 22,000 investors who make up 75% of the club's shareholders to put pressure on the City institutions that own the bulk of the club's shares.

"Those 22,000 people have small shareholdings but a very loud voice and we will be doing everything we can, both privately with the club and publicly through the media," said Houston.