The Busby syndrome

Busby: Retirement as manager created problems

By BBC Sport Online's Simon Austin

The question of what Sir Alex Ferguson should do when his tenure as manager of Manchester United ended was always going to be a difficult one.

The man himself has said that he would like an ambassadorial role with the club that he has turned from also-rans to treble winners.

He wanted to work about 90 days a year, travelling the world to promote the biggest club in the world.

But as they say, great men cast long shadows. The Old Trafford board has been only too aware of what happened when United's other managerial colossus, Sir Matt Busby, retired as boss back in 1969.

He was made general manager in recognition of his huge contribution to the club.

It was also intended that he would offer help and guidance to his successor, Wilf McGuinness.

Players confused

Honorable intentions, but the plan went drastically wrong.

The unassuming McGuinness found it difficult to make the job his own with Busby looming large in the background.

And the players, who had won the championship and European Cup under their mentor Busby, found it difficult to decide who was actually in charge.

The likes of George Best, Paddy Crerand, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton often went to Busby and not McGuiness for advice.

As a result, United had a disastrous season from which they took years to recover.

This is the problem that the United board have faced. Would it be fair for a new manager to come in with Ferguson in the shadows?

What now for the players?

Especially when the new man is sure to be a managerial heavyweight determined to do things his own way - the like of Celtic's Martin O'Neill or Bayern Munich's Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Yet failing to ensure that the man who has masterminded a halcyon era at Old Trafford was going to stay was always going to be dangerous.

We do not know why Ferguson has decided to sever all ties with United at the end of next year, but many fans are already blaming the board.

Ferguson is held in a God-like regard by the club's supporters.

He also enjoys a close relationship with his players, many of whom he has nurtured from the youth ranks through to the first team.

Some of United's players have already admitted that they will consider their futures at the club when Ferguson leaves.

If he had stayed on in an ambassadorial role, many of the players might have been persuaded to stay. Who knows now?