Ferguson: No more U-turns

Ferguson admitted he was not ready to retire

Sir Alex Ferguson will sever all ties with Manchester United when he steps down as manager in 2005.

And the 60-year-old Scot insisted there would be no repeat of the change of heart that has seen him go back on his original decision to quit at the end of the current campaign.

Ferguson had been expected to step down in May and take up an ambassadorial role with the club.

Instead, the United boss is set to sign a three-year extension to his manager's contract on Monday.

I have no intention of staying on at the club in any capacity whatsoever

Sir Alex Ferguson

And this time, when he does relinquish the helm he has vowed he will not move upstairs.

"I'm pleased to be staying - but once this contract is up, that will be it," Ferguson told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

"I have no intention of staying on at the club in any capacity whatsoever."

Ferguson's insistence on taking up a new role at Old Trafford had been a source of friction between manager and board when he first revealed his intention to retire.

But it appears he now feels that three more years as boss will satisfy his desire for continued involvement in the club.

Academy priority

The Scot had preferred to sign a two-year agreement to remain in charge, but has bowed to club pressure to stay on for a further 12 months.

He added on BBC Radio Five Live: "I just felt that I wasn't ready to retire and maybe I should not have announced it in the first place - it was too soon.

"But having thought it over with my family we felt the right thing to do was to carry on and retire when I'm tired."

Ferguson confirmed there were "one or two small details to sort out" over his new contract, but that he expected it to be tied up this week.

The Scot also dismissed rumours that he wanted to bring back former assistant Steve McClaren back to Old Trafford.

He said: "That's speculation. It's the future of the club at academy level. That is what needs sorting out over the next few months."