Stop The Clock

‘THE stopwatch is clicking. Alex Ferguson’s career at Manchester United is moving deep into injury time.

Of course Fergie will want a few more minutes, as ever he did. But the papers are adamant that time is almost up for Fergie.

“It’s Premiership or bust now for the United boss,” says the Mail’s backpage headline. But that’s not much of a choice. Chelsea are miles ahead in the league. It looks like bust for Ferguson.

The race for the league title is all but over. Ferguson might as well go now, before another season at old Trafford ends without silverware. It might get worse – Ferguson’s reign might end with the club’s debut in the InterToto Cup.

But when Ferguson goes who will replace him? Helpfully, the Telegraph profiles a list of candidates. All the usual suspects are there: Roy Keane, Steve McClaren, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Martin O’Neill.

But the Sun sees a favourite. It’s not a dream team of Phil and Gary Neville. The Sun says Gus Hiddink is the man to restore glory to United.

But whoever gets the job the Sun’s headline seems to say it all: “Your arrogant reign is over.” Ferguson is being given the full hairdryer.

It’s clear that not everyone will miss the red-faced one, not least of all the poor groundsman who has been picking up the chunks of chewing gum Ferguson aggressively tosses to the ground after matches.

Elsewhere in sport, all eyes are on the fight between Audley “Fraudley” Harrison and Danny Williams, the man who beat Mike Tyson when the former baddest man on the planet was making his umpteenth comeback bid.

Somewhat amazingly, all tickets for Saturday’s Commonwealth title about have been sold out. When most sports fans will be glued to the box to see if Darren Gough can move into the latter stages of Strictly Come Dancing, 15,000 people will be sat in the ExCeL arena watching a fight.

The rest of you can watch it on ITV after the X Factor, a contest every bit as important as this bout…’

Posted: 9th, December 2005 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink