Ferguson in dark over Glazer plan

Ferguson will be offered a long-term contract as part of a five-year plan Daily Express' chief football writer Harry Harris

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admits his future is unclear after US tycoon Malcolm Glazer moved closer to buying the club.

Glazer has a 74.81% share in Man Utd and needs 75% to delist the club.

"I always look forward, and I do so again, but we'll just have to wait and see what is going to happen," Ferguson told the Scotsman.

Ferguson has been manager for 18 years and he begins a one-year rolling contract at Old Trafford in the summer.

Reports on Friday suggested Ferguson's job was not under threat despite Glazer's proposed takeover.

"Ferguson will be offered a long-term contract as part of a five-year plan," the Daily Express' chief football writer Harry Harris told BBC Radio Five Live.

"In that plan, he will be given £100m for new players."

The Manchester United manager decided not to speak to the media on Friday ahead of Sunday's Premiership match at Southampton, handing that task instead to assistant Carlos Queiroz.

Glazer buying Utd is just another nail in the coffin of football as we know it From NS Have your say on 606

Ferguson, who has been at the Old Trafford helm for more than 18 years, will begin a one-year rolling contract this summer.

However, Glazer is reported to be keen for the Scottish manager to oversee football affairs during what is set to be a difficult period of transition off the field.

Harris' reports on the saga over recent months appear to have been reliable, although nobody from the Glazer camp has commented about their future intentions for the team.

The American tycoon is certain to shake up the boardroom, casting uncertainty over the future of chief executive David Gill.

Gill, who took over from Peter Kenyon in September 2003, recently referred to Glazer's takeover plan as "potentially damaging".

Harris insisted that Gill's position would also be safe for now, although BBC business editor Jeff Randall disagrees and predicts changes in the boardroom fairly swiftly.

From the moment Glazer has control, chairman Sir Roy Gardner is definitely out with chief executive David Gill almost certainly out as well BBC business editor Jeff Randall

Harris said: "David Gill will be kept in place as they (the Glazers) have complete confidence in the management team.

"But the non-executive directors will be sacked while Joel and Avi Glazer will join the board."

The Guardian newspaper also reports that Gill is expected to continue in the same position at Old Trafford.

But Malcolm Glazer's son Joel is expected to have a "active" role once he takes his place among the club's directors.

"The Glazers have a very high regard of David Gill," an advisor to the Glazers told The Guardian.

"They hope and expect that Gill will continue to do the job he has been doing.

"One of the reasons they want to buy Manchester United is that it is the best managed football club in England."

But Randall was less sure.

"From the moment he has effective control, which could take five or six weeks, chairman Sir Roy Gardner is definitely out with chief executive David Gill almost certainly out as well.

"They opposed Glazer. Why does he need them anyway? He is coming in and saying: 'I can run this business better than you'."