Ferguson Blames Shepherd

By Nick Raynor
December 1 2006

Sir Alex Ferguson is complaining about how the rules were changed for Newcastle United and Middlesbrough when their managers were hired.

Both Glenn Roeder and Gareth Southgate lack the UEFA-Pro License required to manage in the Barclaycard Premiership.

 

However, both managers are currently taking their badges and should be up-to-date soon.

 

Roeder was given special dispensation by the Premier League board after doing a good job as caretaker manager.

 

Ferguson insists it is not personal, but does blame Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd for instigating the rule chance.

 

Ferguson said:

 

"The regulations were set out to improve the standard of coaching and the people coming into the game and they should have remained,"

 

"The whole thing was changed by Freddy Shepherd when he rounded on the other chairmen to get the rules changed so he could appoint Glenn Roeder.

 

"I am a committee member of the LMA, I feel the rules were absolutely correct and it was wrong to change them.

 

"If you want the quality of the game to improve, it has to be done through the coaches.

 

"It is nothing personal, but the principle was right and the fact both Gareth Southgate and Glenn Roeder are now taking their badges gives you the answer.

 

"Once the door was opened by Freddy Shepherd, Middlesbrough were completely correct in giving the job to Gareth Southgate under exactly the same principle as Glenn Roeder got it.

 

“But Gareth is different from Glenn in the sense he was a player, then the next day he becomes a manager when the job is thrust upon him.

 

"The door is open now. How you close it I don't know."