Too tough at the top?

Sir Alex Ferguson claims the pressure on today's football managers is unbearable.

Have clubs become too tough on the man at the top?

Since the start of the season in August, 21 managers have faced the axe due to unsatisfactory results.

Now one of the games most successful managers has admitted he is finally feeling the strain of 15 years in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Fergie has brought United unrivalled success winning the Premiership seven times and the Champions League in 1999, but the 59-year-old admits the pressure at times is too much.

Gerard Houllier's heart scare has also caused many to question whether the modern game places too much pressure on the head men.

Football managers have always been under the spotlight, but is life at the top too tough?

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It is a tough position, but not much worse now than in 1999, when Mr Ferguson seemed to take winning the Treble in his stride. What I see is players, at least subconsciously, looking to who the next manager will be. Because their futures will be linked with HIM, not with Sir Alex. Hopefully the board will clear any sales with their chosen candidates before approving any exits in the near future?
Rhys Jaggar, England

Mike, England (below) was obviously choking on his prawn sandwich when he wrote his piece. The only ex-Liverpool pundits that I can think of are Lawrenson and Hanson, I hardly think that they form a majority in the gravy train that is TV punditry. To be fair to them they are pretty objective, Hanson even smiles when England win for God's sake!

Like Brian Clough, who should have gone after the FA Cup Final in 1991, Ferguson has simply stayed a season too long

James Crosby, Telford, England

Mike's point about Manchester United being slated and slammed at every opportunity is patently untrue. The media love Man Utd, they guarantee them an audience and they sell newspapers. I've lost count of the number of times that I've seen a newsreader or sports presenter simper as they introduce video clips of the team that they all assume the nation loves.

It is the general public that have wearied of them, just as they wearied of Liverpool in the 80's and will weary of either Liverpool or Leeds as they start to dominate. I think that Ferguson is just tired, 13 years at the top of a trade is a long time. It must be hard to motivate yourself and your team when you are all already extremely secure financially and you've got a cupboard full of medals. Like Brian Clough, who should have gone after the FA Cup Final in 1991 win or lose, Ferguson has simply stayed a season too long.
James Crosby, Telford, England

It must be said that Fergie is the master psychologist, who always seems to be one step ahead of the critics. This latest 'revelation' is just the latest muddying of the waters, but rest assured, his team will be facing up to the realities on the training ground.
Andy, USA

Firstly a couple of facts. The illness that Gerard Houllier has suffered cannot have been brought on by stress of work or by Liverpool FC. That's a medical reality. His problems are caused by factors that probably stem from hereditary defects and of course his diet. In fact as a manager Houllier has had quite a smooth ride from his adoring press and crawling TV pundits (all ex-Liverpool players and supporters).

Pressure is relative, the pressure at the bottom is different, not greater or lesser

Paul H, UK

Meanwhile Sir Alex Ferguson has been totally undermined throughout his reign at Manchester United by a cynical media that resents anything un-Liverpool achieving success, combined with the bigoted barrage of abuse from the jealous Man Utd-haters that fill every stadium wherever United play. It's not just the clubs that make a managers lot too much to bear.
Mike, England

How refreshing to read all the anti-Man U/Fergie comments. Sir Alex states that he has sacrificed his family commitments for the sake of his job and states that the pressures of football management have been unbearable at times. Then all the usual suspects jump on the bandwagon and critisize his sale of Jaap Stam etc. Pathetic the lot of you. Maybe you should be politicians since you don't know how to answer the question asked?
Mark, Belgium

Pressure is relative, the pressure at the bottom is different, not greater or lesser. The man who does not earn enough to feed his kids is under a great deal of pressure, but so is the man whose every movement is blasted across the front and back pages. Both types of pressure can cause hardship to loved ones and break up families. And as for physical strain? Ask Mrs Houllier or Mrs O'Leary whether high-profile managers suffer.
Paul H, UK

Ferguson and other top flight managers are well rewarded for the pressure

Phil Butler, England

Today's managers are under a lot of pressure, but they get the salary to go with it. A brain surgeon or a fireman are on a tenth of that wage, with far greater life or death pressure.
J.A.Hughes,

You have to have some sympathy for managers in the lower divisions but Ferguson and other top flight managers are well rewarded for the pressure. Managers are not perfect either look at the way Glenn Hoddle deserted The Saints last year. I hope no-one listens to him when he starts whinging. At the end of the day though football is only a game - enjoy it.
Phil Butler, England

Oh dear. Poor Sir Alex can't cope with being beaten by other teams. Maybe he shouldn't have sold Jaap Stam, but that would mean putting the good of the club before his ego. Is this latest excuse en vogue because we've all got wise to: "the referee had a shocker", "we were denied a clear penalty", "there wasn't enough injury time played" etc. etc. ad nauseam.
John, UK

Excuse me, but did he think such a highly paid job would be a walk in the park? I imagine Tony Blair also feels stressed and he gets one tenth of the money.
David Martin, United Kingdom

I would be extremely concerned if Ferguson hadn't felt the pressure yet after all these years.

Matthew, South Africa

Yes it is tough, but it is far tougher for those in the lower leagues who have got no resources yet still have to produce results to justify their employment. Sir Alex and friends can simply demand millions of pounds from their boards when things get tough.
Paul Bennett, UK

Although Alex's post is fairly safe, with the axe being swung so much recently and Houllier's health problems, it is a stressful job. I think with all this in mind, Fergie must be thinking he left retirement one season too late!
Chris Gaunt, England

He's definitely right, there is far too much pressure in top level football these days. But lets face it, how many managers successfully coach a team like United and stay in the toughest job in world football for 15 years? I would be extremely concerned if he hadn't felt the pressure yet after all these years.
Matthew, South Africa

Managers get paid handsomely for what they do, and if they don't get the results, then their contract is paid up in full. Pressure is when you earn a basic salary and have four kids to feed. You know what they say, if you can't stand the heat...
Fraser Talbot, Scotland

Coaching obviously isn't Ferguson's forte and he is just suffering for his own complacency.

N.Morgan, England

I think this is nothing more than an Alex Ferguson ploy to cover his tracks. When Man Utd get beat it is never because the team they play has outplayed them, it is because Man Utd have played badly. Well now Man Utd ARE playing badly, so that excuse is out of the window, and he has to look around for the next semi-believable excuse....oh it's the pressure. Stand up and be counted Alex, your own decisions have put you in this mess and you know you don't have the managerial skills to get out of it. Leeds or Liverpool for the title, and what a pleasant change it makes.
Mike Lewis, UK

Alex seems to have taken on too much in his final year and you can safely assume that he has underestimated the roles of his previous coaches. Coaching obviously isn't his forte and he is just suffering for his own complacency. I will say though that in my opinion he has been the best manager in the English game since the days of Bob Paisley (I'm a Leeds fan.)
N.Morgan, England

Because Sir Ferguson has stayed too long at the club, the motivation has gone, so he is forcing himself to motivate others, he could have quit after achieving his dream like his goalie (Schmeichel) taken a break and then come back feeling hungrier for success. It's not only him, but the whole team feels less motivated; they all need new challenges.
Ola Ray, Catford, UK