Peterborough's play-off push

By Caroline Cheese

Ferguson has led Peterborough to four wins in five games

There were a few raised eyebrows in January when Peterborough turned to Darren Ferguson to revive their fortunes.

Outgoing manager Keith Alexander said the decision "didn't make any sense", while the majority of Posh fans on BBC Sport's 606 messageboards expressed grave concerns that Ferguson would be out of his depth.

Were the Posh blindly hoping that some of Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial magic touch had rubbed off on his son or was this a masterstroke akin to Watford's appointment of the inexperienced Aidy Boothroyd?

Just eleven games into his reign is clearly too early to judge.

606 reaction to Ferguson's appointment

However, four wins in their last five outings have breathed new life into Peterborough's play-off hopes.

Ferguson, who is just 35, readily admits he has taken advice from dad Sir Alex but it is the words of his contemporaries which have proved just as valuable.

"This is something I've been working towards for the last few years. I've done the badges and various management courses. I'm as prepared as I can be," Ferguson told BBC Sport.

Management is a young man's game, definitely Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson

"I've spoken to Aidy and David Moyes and others like that who have gone into it young.

"They've give me some great advice. I think the role of the manager has changed quite a lot, in terms of the scientific aspect and how to prepare the players.

"It's a young man's game, definitely."

Youth certainly seems to rule at Peterborough, whose chairman Darragh MacAnthony is the youngest in the Football League or Premiership at just 30.

The Mallorca-based Irish property magnate has been gradually buying out previous owner Barry Fry since last summer and took over as chairman in September.

606: DEBATE Is Ferguson the man to lead the Posh up the leagues?

Ferguson says he and MacAnthony share a desire "not to be in this division any longer than we have to be".

"We're both young and we're both amibitious for this club," said Ferguson.

"He thinks on exactly same lines as myself. We want to get the club moving up the leagues as quickly as possible."

Ferguson might be tempted to give his old dad a call if he needs a couple of loan signings to boost his squad, but with MacAnthony's backing, he may not need to.

MacAnthony has already stated he wants Premiership football in five years and has underlined that ambition with money, spending £1m on players in January - almost unheard of for a League Two club.

"The chairman lives in Spain but he's been over the last three weeks so we've had a lot of contact and we email each other all the time too," said Ferguson.

Getting to the Premiership is realistic Darren Ferguson

"We've already identified the players we'd like in the summer - ones that would be good enough for this league and the one above. Now it's a question of working away at it."

Peterborough's immediate future might become much clearer on Saturday when they face Wycombe, who are two places above the Posh in eighth.

"Saturday's a massive game," said Ferguson. "If we win that game, we've got a realistic chance of getting into the play-offs. We just have to hope we do."

If not, Peterborough will have to content themselves with targeting automatic promotion next season, and beyond that, there is MacAnthony's Premiership dream.

"I haven't put a timescale on it," said the manager.

"But I think it's realistic. You just have to look at the teams that have been in there, like Bradford, Wimbledon and Reading. Colchester are close to it this season.

"Anything's realistic."