Is Sir Alex right to stay?

Ferguson is expected to complete a dramatic change of heart by signing a new three-year contract at Man Utd worth a reported £11m.

Should Fergie remain at the helm?

The most successful manager in Manchester United's history looks set to make a shock u-turn and extend his 15-year reign at the club.

Ferguson was due to stand down at the end of the season, but United have opened talks about renewing his contract.

Leading names Ottmar Hitzfield, Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson headed the list of possible replacements, but the search for the next United boss could be at an end.

Should Sir Alex stay on? Or was the time right for a change?

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There can be no doubt that this will have delighted Man Utd fans around the world. No manager is currently available to step into Fergie's shoes and if Becks and co stay as a consequence then this is a masterstroke for the Old Trafford management.

I agree that investment in the defence is needed but Fergie will put that right with his desire to win and finally quash rumours that Man Utd have had their best years. Roll on the next three years!
Matt Stevens, England

Superb news! Commiserations to Liverpool, Arsenal, and all the other pretenders.
Huw, Wales

Ferguson is suffering from the Thatcher syndrome - delusions of invincibility and not knowing when its time to quit.
P Freestone, UK

This would have been the right time for him to leave - he will live to regret his turnaround

Robbie Ngomuo, Tanzania

What depressing news! After watching United go seriously backwards over the past three years, I was so looking forward to an exciting, fresh approach that would see the return of the old dynamic team. Instead, we are going to witness the continued destruction of a once great team by the most arrogant person in football.

Make no mistake United fans, this team will be kicked out of the Champions League by the quarter-finals - if not before, and will struggle to finish in the top three. Never forget - this was the genius who traded Stam for Le Buffhead.
David H, UK

It makes perfect sense. The major managers aren't available until the end of next season, so why not keep the best manager in English football at the helm until we get a replacement?
Dave Ashton, England

Ferguson is the best chequebook manager of all time and without it he would be lost. I hope for his sake the money supply doesn't dry up, but I think if I was him, I would call it a day, because even Manchester United can't afford the players he needs to put things right.
W Simpkin, England

I think it is a sorry decision for Fergie to stay on. I don't think he has any new tricks for United, and I don't think they will win the league either. This would have been the right time for him to leave. He will live to regret his turnaround.
Robbie Ngomuo, Tanzania

With no good replacement for at least a year it buys United some time

Steve, UK

Let the past go, Man Utd. Fair enough, Fergie is one of the most successful managers in British history, but he can't go on forever. I understand that there will be a wealth of good managers available at the end of next season, but how are players like David Beckham supposed to decide whether to stay or not when they don't know who'll be coming in?
Ian, Britain

There is no way Ferguson's arrogant nature would let him retire in a season his team did not dominate as in the past. They may win the league but clearly cannot defend well enough to win the Champions League. He cannot afford to risk retiring not having won something in his final year. And if Liverpool win the league then he has left United as he found them - second best to the Scousers!
Phil, USA

It's great for the club that he stays. With no good replacement for at least a year it buys United some time to find the best replacement. United would mot be the same without Ferguson.
Steve, UK

No true fan of United would want Sir Alex to retire. Any thoughts the other Premiership clubs had of winning the League in the coming seasons have gone out the window. Clearly the genius of this man extends beyond the football pitch. I believe that he will bring in a new central defence and finally retire in a blaze of glory with martin O'Neill waiting in the wings to take over.
Steve, Kenya

Ferguson staying will ensure that Beckham, Giggs and Keane will stay at the club

James Goode, UK

As an Arsenal fan, this is the worst news I've heard all day.
James Davey, UK

Fergie's getting a bit too old to stay at a top Premiership team. We saw signs of that pressure at the start of the season. He's definitely not the manager of previous seasons and should go now and enjoy some time with his family. After all, that was the reason he stated for wanting to leave Man Utd.
Kevin, Ireland

Any new manager would have meant a break up of the United team. Ferguson staying will ensure that Beckham, Giggs and Keane will stay at the club.
James Goode, UK

By signing a few world class defenders, Fergie will make Man Utd unbeatable. He should sign Ayala (Valencia) and Hofland (PSV) then follow up by signing Nuno Gomes and sell Yorke who is a waste of space!
Stasher, UK

For Manchester United, it would be a great decision if he stays, albeit for one more season. United's available options for a replacement are limited at the moment, but in two years time three of the leading candidates will be available. This jigsaw is falling into place very nicely...
Matt, Johannesburg, South Africa

What could be possibly better? I'm delighted

Mark, England

I have felt it in my bones for a while that Fergie would change his mind and stay on - he just loves the club too much to walk away. The early season failures were largely because he has basically built a new team over the last six months, and he needs to stay and guide them to the success they are capable of. I think he definitely needs an assistant in future though, a la Kidd or McLaren.
Robert, England

It's great news. A couple more seasons in charge would then leave the way open for Sven to take over. What could be possibly better? I'm delighted.
Imran, UK

I guess the most unhappy person on hearing this news must be Dwight Yorke who said he wanted to stay and impress the new manager!
Mark, England

He is simply the best. Sir Alex is Manchester United, he has proved his devotion for the club yet again. There are no better managers available at the moment, so he stays.
Paul Higgins, England

I think Ferguson has agreed to stay on purely because United cannot replace him this season. He would not want everything to fall apart for the sake of a year. It is time for him to go and Fergie knows it.
Malcolm, England

Ferguson wants to end on a high and is all too aware he won't get it this season

John, UK

I think the Sunderland game was pivotal in Sir Alex's decision to stay. Finally he has seen this squad on song. Until last week this squad hadn't really set alight, but now he knows what they are capable of. Two world-class defenders would make them unbeatable. Maybe he's after two more European Cups?
Rob Berenger, London

It smacks of desperation, what with United claiming they would clean up this season. Wasn't it Beckham who said the team would try and go the whole season without losing a game? Ferguson wants to end on a high and is all too aware he won't get it this season.

That, coupled with the fact that the club couldn't find a man with enough bottle to take on the job, means Ferguson may well still be doing the job for years. Old Trafford will be the only ground on Britain with a stair lift in the dugout.
John, UK

Why walk away from a side that has still to reach its peak? A top-class central defender and cover for Giggs on the left are all the team requires.
Phil Daniels, UK

The length of Alex Ferguson's notice, and the speculation around the possible identity of his successor seems to have unsettled the team this season. Whilst it is an obvious short-term advantage for him to stay on, this merely postpones the problem - unless the club appoint from within and spend the next two seasons grooming him. It is unlikely however, that Manchester United will appoint an inexperienced manager.
Jason Jawando, UK

It paves the way for Sven-Goran Eriksson in two year's time when his contract is up for England

Paul, UK

Speaking as a Man Utd fan I think Fergie should go. The problems this season stem from uncertainty with the manager and the lack of a world class coaching staff. Also, a new Manager could add more to these players - many have only had Ferguson as a manager and the experiences and lessons of a new one could broaden and improve their skills in different areas.
Adrian, UK

So, the news is out that Fergie is to stay. The real question is - did we ever believe he was really going? There seems to have been a knowing smirk on his face each time he has been asked about this subject. A couple more seasons would take us to Euro 2004...Eriksson to follow perhaps?
Roy Hastings, UK

It paves the way for Sven-Goran Eriksson in two year's time when his contract is up for England. He must be the number one choice.
Paul, UK

I think that it would be a real boost for United if he did, but I would question whether the desire is still there. Does he really want to? Will he be fully committed? It would give United some breathing space and an opportunity to get the man they want, whether it is Cappello or O'Neill. As a Liverpool fan I hope we've seen the last of the miserable gum-chewing swine!
Greg, UK

The answer is yes, yes, yes please!

Martin Last, Erie

Fergie's retirement announcement almost certainly contributed to United's early season lack of commitment. Now that they've seen the error of their ways (or Fergie pointed it out to them), why risk going through the same sort of mourning and uncertainty next season?
Joel, UK

Sir Alex should certainly stay for another season. A new manager at the biggest sporting club on earth needs to have a smooth transition into the role. It is already too late to ensure this situation for a replacement. Ferguson is perfectly able to continue for a few more years, and in that time United can spend more time in finding the best possible successor.
Rob, England

It will be fantastic for United should Fergie decide to stay on. Most importantly it will mean that David Beckham stays, and then who knows what he can achieve with another year in charge of this team. He sought for years to bring truly class players to the club, so another year to harness the skills of Becks, Van Nistelrooy, Veron, et al may well lead to bigger and better things!
Paul Burton, UK

It makes sense since Martin O'Neill isn't available until the end of next season. However, he should make his decision clear as soon as possible since delaying it any longer will just un-settle the players further.
Barry Wright, England

No question about it. He is starting to build another great team and just needs one or two class defenders to complete the best team in Europe. The answer is yes, yes, yes please!
Martin Last, Erie