Thaindian News

London, Jan 30 (ANI): Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Sky TV should forget any thoughts of signing up Gary Neville as he has a job at Old Trafford for life.

Ferguson was responding to reports linking Neville with the role left vacant by Andy Gray’s sacking.

Ferguson insists Neville’s playing career could go on for another season and, if not, he will be offered a role in coaching, Sky News reports.

Some United sources believe the former England full-back could even be groomed as Ferguson’s eventual successor.

Ferguson said: “Gary will have a place at Manchester United forever. Of course I would like him to stay. I don’t know if he’d make a decent pundit. He’s not got the experience. Obviously there is a bit of speculation about who replaces Andy Gray and Richard Keys, but it is not my agenda.”

“I don’t know about this being Gary’s last season as a player, anyway. He has an ankle injury at the moment but maybe he’ll be back in training next week. I think footballers should enjoy their football as much as they can. His body will tell him it’s the right time, like Edwin van der Sar feels it is the right time for him,” he said.

“The remarkable thing about Gary Neville is that he keeps coming back from injuries. He is an amazing man, an outstanding person,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson is reluctant to write off the last survivors of his “Golden Generation”. He has secured the services of Ryan Giggs for another season and has left the door open to Paul Scholes.

If Neville, 36 next month, decides to quit playing in the summer, he will be given the opportunity to extend his already considerable influence within the club on the coaching staff. (ANI)