There’s something about Sir Alex Ferguson’s nepotism that is both enduring and utterly shameless: from BBC accusations that the Manchester United manager pressured young players into signing with agent son Jason, to the recent loans of young players to whatever club manager son Darren is running, and conveniently arranged friendlies.
So it continues, with Red youngsters Ryan Tunnicliffe and Scott Wootton this week joining Championship outfit Peterborough United for the next six months. If history is repeated the pair may well not be the last United kids to end up at London Road this season.
Tunnicliffe, 18, last season’s United Young Player of the Year, has signed immediately, with 19-year-old Woootton joining the midfielder at Posh’s Portuguese training camp before officially signing forms in July.
“Ryan is obviously an up and coming player at Manchester United. He was very inspirational in helping to win the FA Youth Cup,” said Darren Ferguson.
“He has a very good pedigree and we feel that he is ready to step up and play in the Championship. He is a tenacoious, box-to-box midfielder and this move works well for him and obviously works very well for us. I am delighted to have him on board and look forward to working with him.”
Peterborough will play in the Championship next season after earning promotion from League One via the play-offs in May, following Ferguson Jr’s return to the club in January. The 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford earned the club a third promotion in the last four seasons.
Yet junior has suffered several ups and downs in a fledgling managerial career. The promotions with Poshwere tempered by a dramatic sacking at Preston last December. Near the foot of the Championship, North End chairman Maurice Lindsay terminated the 39-year-old coach’s contract a year into the job.
Old Traffor’s reaction was seemingly swift and brutal, with senior reportedly demanding the early and immediate end to the loans of Joshua King and Ritchie de Laet. Due to contractual terms of a third United player, Matthew James, the midfielder did not return to Old Trafford for another fortnight.
“That has come as a bit of a shock to us and it’s a bit of a blow. Ritchie and Josh won’t now be available on Saturday,” Lindsay told North End’s website at the time.
“We got a message from Manchester United that they have been summoned back immediately. Under the terms of the loan agreement they can do that, we recognise United’s legal right to do that. They would like Matty James back as well, but his contract is a bit different.”
Senior later claimed that the players requested to not remain at Deepdale after the change of manager, although the explanation took nearly a month to arrive. Suspicion of senior’s power to affect Deepdale grew after former United academy players Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge were recalled from loan by parent club Stoke City almost immediately after junior’s sacking. That Stoke manager Tony Pulis resides in Sir Alex’ inner sanctum of managerial friends only adds to the curiosity.
“I spoke with the owner, Trevor Hemmings, with whom I have a good relationship, and explained that the players did not want to go back,” said Ferguson of the abrupt recalls.
“Our reserve team coach, Warren Joyce, spoke to me about it. We decided that the players should go to training that day and we would discuss it later. We decided that if the players did not want to go back there was no point in them being there.”
Yet, there has been more than one accusation of nepotism when it comes to the Ferguson family. The Knight’s dispute with the BBC – he has spoken to or on the corporation’s channels on a very few select occasions – dates back to the broadcaster’s 2004 Panorama documentary, which ostensibly accused Jason of exploiting his father’s influence to sign United’s younger players to his agency books. The Beeb’s accusation has been met with silence but no legal action.
Neither is Darren free of controversy after admitting in April 2008 to assaulting his estranged wife in the driveway of Sir Alex’s Wilmslow home. Junior changed his plea to guilty after initially denying the charge and was fined £1,500. The younger Ferguson is now regularly subjected to terrace abuse about the incident.
Whatever the reasons for this week’s loans – surely only the most myopic of United supporter can claim anything bar nepotism – Wootton and Tunnicliffe may will benefit from first team action if Posh can start the season in some semblance of early season form.
Following the 2008/9 promotion from League One Peterborough’s limited budget and inability to invest in new talent resulted in Ferguson leaving Peterborough “by mutual consent” in November 2009, with Posh bottom of the table and heading for relegation. Senior later claimed to have told his son to leave Peterborough that summer.
Tunnicliffe and Wootton will hope for a brighter start this time around. Anything else and junior will be on the end of a third P45 in as many seasons. Either that or a rash of new United kids to play with.
Fergusons continue keeping it in the family
(69 posts) (14 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Ed,
I see that despite all that SAF has won since 2005 you can't resist the urge to put the knife in nor cast aspersions on the man's character eh?And yet I get people here who come on the hurl insults at me because I felt that Paul Scholes had over stayed and it was great he had retired. You have ALWAYS found it easy to take pops at Sir Alex and I remember the battles we used to have on this site in '05 - the main reason I joined. Amazing.
So what if he sends our players to Posh? They are in the Championship and the lads need games.
Dear Sir Alex Ferguson, the 4-4-2 formation with two strikers and two central midfielders is DEAD. Please stop playing this. Thank you very much sir. Regards,
A Loyal Fan.Posted 1 year ago # -
Cal – got nothing to do with ‘putting the knife in’ or ‘casting aspersions on his character’. These players are only going to Peterborough because his son is in charge. If Ferguson Jr was in charge of any other side they’d be going there instead.
So what? Well has the decision been made for the benefit of the players and United first? Or Ferguson’s personal agenda with helping his son. It’s a perfectly fair question to ask in my honest opinion.
Editor & Moderator at http://www.unitedrant.co.ukPosted 1 year ago # -
Listen man, I come from a country of nepotists and I know one when I see it. This one does not seem like it at all to me believe me. It is more of SAF's control freak mentality. he knows that while those players are at Posh he will have them under control cos of who their manager is.
Besides, you know more than most that football is filled with nepotism and who-you-know lets you get ahead. It is deeply corrupt sport with England the cleanest around. if most of us who follow this sport see the true horrible sight of the players/managers/agent/administrators we just might pack it and just stop watching and spending money and energy.
Anyway, carry on mate. I respect your views. I hate flip-floppers. By the way, who here is Daniel Taylor of the Guardian. I have no doubt that the fellow is on this site. When I read most of his stuff on the Guardian I can see him picking up on most of our arguments here. So, go on, spit it out cos am sure you know. Rob Smythe might be trawling on here too. Like Rob though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
sidney
Member
Calvino said:
Ed,
I see that despite all that SAF has won since 2005 you can't resist the urge to put the knife in nor cast aspersions on the man's character eh?The same can be said about you and Giggs & Scholes
You wanted them to retire 5 years ago - but look at what they have done for us since
Posted 1 year ago # -
Rubbish Sid and you know it. I wanted Scholes to retire at the end of the '08 season. His performances after proved it that he was washed up. Giggs was better because he was moved inside as he had no pace to out run any PL full-back again. All bare face facts. All that we won since '08 have been inspite of Paul Scholes. My view. Still is.
Posted 1 year ago # -
reddread
Member
Cal, you are losing it. Why would Dan Taylor be on here? He is a Forest fan, for starters, and I don't recall ever reading him rehash any specific arguments from here in the Guardian. He's a journalist, and therefore will have all kinds of sources. You think what we say here is exclusive to Rant? Quite besides that, we are lucky to get 20 posts some days. Hardly a hotbed of opinion for a national newspaper footy writer to pick the bones out of. He may well have a browse, and maybe even post under a pseudonym, but I think you may be holding the forum, ignore the site itself, in rather too high a regard. No offence, Ed!
"The longbow beats the crossbow, my idiotic friend"
LUHGPosted 1 year ago # -
reddread
Member Oh, and to deny nepotism in these cases is short sighted in the extreme. It isn't the sending out of players on loan to the team that Darren managed that would seem to prove this theory, but the way in which they were called back virtually the second he was sacked. Did that do the players or United any good? I think not...
Posted 1 year ago # -
sheesh
Member
reddread said:
Cal, you are losing it. Why would Dan Taylor be on here? He is a Forest fan, for starters, and I don't recall ever reading him rehash any specific arguments from here in the Guardian. He's a journalist, and therefore will have all kinds of sources. You think what we say here is exclusive to Rant? Quite besides that, we are lucky to get 20 posts some days. Hardly a hotbed of opinion for a national newspaper footy writer to pick the bones out of. He may well have a browse, and maybe even post under a pseudonym, but I think you may be holding the forum, ignore the site itself, in rather too high a regard. No offence, Ed!I love Cal. I really do
Posted 1 year ago # -
baggio365
Member
is he really a forest fan? most of his articles are very pro united.
and for the loan deals, i'm with cal. if they get game time, then i'll be happy. nothing worse than sending a player out on loan and them not playing. and obviously fergie is helping his son, but unless the FA say its illegal, then he can keep doing it. same way he loans/sells players to managers who he likes. thats just the way the game works
Posted 1 year ago # -
Gabagool
Member
Posted by unregistered user: GabagoolWho gives a shit if it’s nepotistic?
As long as it works out well for the players and the clubs, and Fergie still has some say/control in how they play etc then I don’t give a monkeys how nepotistic it is.
Who are we to take the moral high ground? This shit goes on in practically every business/industry there is.Posted 1 year ago # -
bman
Member
I agree with you fully on this point, Cal. There is a bit of a weird urge in some parts to keep digging at SAF for not, I suppose, quitting when the Glazers took over. Personally I think every United fan should be thanking him for sticking with it and winning 4 PLs and a CL and a lot of other glory besides during these dark years, but that's just me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
reddread
Member I don't think the article is having a dig at him per se, it's just pointing out certain things he's guilty of. It is hardly 'Fergie Out!'. Anyway, if it gets us talking about something other than fucking transfer rumours, I'm all for it! I couldn't care less if if it is nepotistic either, but denying it is, as Cal did, is just silly.
Baggio, Taylor is a Forest fan. Check his Twitter profile @DTGuardian
Posted 1 year ago # -
Waxfoot
Member Posted by unregistered user: WaxfootI don’t rate Darren Ferguson as a manager, but him being at Peterborough is handy as it gives us the chance to send Tunnicliffe to a Championship club where he will be sure to get gametime. This wouldn’t be guarenteed anywhere other than with Ferguson junior. Does this make the blatant nepotism right? Of course not. But in this instance, Sir Alex is acting out of everyone’s best interests I think.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tom Addison
Member Posted by unregistered user: Tom AddisonI take my hat off to you for writing an article that isn’t written through the lenses of red-tinted specs. It appears that one of the core rules of the fundamentalist sect of United fans is that Fergie is immune from any sort of criticism at all. Any United fan that says the BBC boycott from the champagne socialist isn’t embarrassing in any way isn’t, in my opinion, being completely honest with himself.
And Calvino, what do you mean by saying that you hate “flip-floppers?” As the great John Maynard Keynes said, “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tom – I have never believed that Sir Alex is immune from criticism. It’s characterised here as ‘having a go at Ferguson’ or ‘Fergie bashing’. That is, of course, simplistic nonsense. I’ve written many articles here and in other media in full praise of Ferguson’s many great characteristics.
But this is a deal – along with those that took players to Preston last season and the 2008 friendly against Peterborough – that were motivated solely by patronage. Nobody at Old Trafford questions Ferguson and he has the power to act on a whim.
Yes these kids will play in the coming six months but Peterborough is not a stable club, has very poor facilities and a limited coaching staff. Tunnicliffe especially, but Wootton too, can both play at a higher level than the foot of the Championship. Is this the right environment for them?
Then there’s the case for the club. Fact: United would have picked up a larger loan fee from a more established club. (My guess is zero from Posh but we should get a decent idea from the next accounts). Point being this is nepotism and it does have consequences.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ian
Member Posted by unregistered user: ianYou might think that this is objective stuff, Ed, but to me the tone smells of an accusation against the whole Ferguson clan of moral depravity. Some might suggest the pursuit of a personal vendetta. Another reading might be that SAF trusts Darren & will find it easy to communicate with him about Tunicliffe’s progress. Yes SAF is doing Darren a favour, as he might do to other mates in the management game, but Darren will do us a favour by playing Tunicliffe regularly & taking care of the lad. The bottom line is that the move is in Ryan Tunicliffe’s & United’s best interest. Raking up details of Darren’s marriage problems is petty, scurrilous & serves no purpose.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ian – please do grow up, its no more a personal vendetta against the Fergusons than I’m starting an obsequious cult when I’ve praised the man – on literally hundreds of occasions – over the past seven years writing on this site. But I’m not going to change a policy of “telling it like I see it”. I see this as nepotism not “moral depravity”. Not that I would stoop to defend Ferguson junior’s “marriage problems” – he was convicted in a criminal court of assaulting his ex-wife. If it had been a rival player or manager can you imagine the stick United fans would have handed out?
Posted 1 year ago # -
squigs
Member
The nepotism is a point you have raised before Yes, Fergie has been responsible for certain favors to family members. (You could point out Martin Ferguson as well but he does an excellent job for United so that might not suit the article.) Fergie obviously has a vengeful streak in him and the whole Preston episode last season was unsavory to say the least.
Re: Peterborough, I think it isn't a bad move for the lads, they are championship standard players and at a lower level club they will be playing regularly hopefully. At a Cardiff or a West Ham they won't be playing regularly. We loan players to a number of Championship clubs at all levels play off contenders and relegation fighters.
With Loan players most do spend one day a week anyway training at Carrington so they can get better training done there. The drop in training standards are compensated by the experience of first team football and we don't expect loan fees for young players it's not the done thing for Premiership clubs.
Fergie certainly has been guilty of nepotism previously of course but this move suits everyone and this article seems to be a bit of an over reaction but he answers to no one and when he is winning I am happy to put up with it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ian
Member Posted by unregistered user: ianEd, you are having a pop at SAF; fair enough no-one is sacrosanct, but let’s concentrate on United. Nepotism is a policy of keeping a matter within the confines of the family …. regardless of whether it is the best interest of all concerned; therefore it is always morally dubious. In this case the matter would seem to be calculated in the best interests of all the parties; there it is sensible & pragmatic. Surely you are trying to argue that SAF is intent on a policy which is morally wrong; I think that you are barking upthe wrong tree here. I agrre with you SAF is no angel & like all of us has made some poor decisions; this is not one of them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ian – Oh please, why do you feel the need to speak for me?
What I mean by nepotism, since you’re struggling with this concept, is the very definition of the word: “Favouritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit.” It is about policy not outcomes. I didn’t mention morals; you did. This decision has been made because Darren is Alex’ son. The outcomes might be ok – might be – but unless you’re telling me that the club undertook an objective evaluation of all options for these kids and made a decision based on this alone then this is by definition nepotism. You’re ok with that. But I think it’s fine to ask whether it is ok for a multi-billion pound business to conduct its affairs this way. It is an over simplification to characterise that question as “having a pop”.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Waxfoot
Member Posted by unregistered user: Waxfoothttp://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_7017859,00.html
Posted 1 year ago #
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