Ferguson confirms veteran Scholes will stay on at Old Trafford next season

By Graeme Yorke

Published: 07:56 EDT, 28 April 2013 | Updated: 07:56 EDT, 28 April 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson says that veteran midfielder Paul Scholes will stay on at Manchester United next season.

Scholes will turn 39 in November and could yet retire from the game, but the Scot says the former England international still has a role to play either way.

After Robin van Persie catapulted United to a title-winning victory over Aston Villa on Monday night, Scholes did not join his team-mates on the pitch to celebrate the club's 20th league trophy.

Veteran: Paul Scholes (right) will remain at Manchester United next season

Ferguson was asked why the player who graduated from the youth academy with the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs didn't join in with the celebrations.

'We'll have to wait and see with Scholes,' Ferguson told the club's official website. 

'He's got an injury that is bothering him a lot. I don't think he came onto the pitch but he's not that type. He was probably home by the time the game ended!

'It doesn't matter as he'll be here anyway - whether as a player or coach. He'll be here anyway.'

Scholes retired from his playing career in May 2011 but left his post as coach of the reserves to return to the United fold the following January.

And Ferguson is convinced Scholes has much to offer around the club even if he decides to call it a day this summer.

He added: 'I think there will come a time when he has to quit anyway, whether it's next year or this year. He's not made his mind up about that. He has got a lot to offer us and we do this now, it's a very important part of our club to get players who have made a great contribution.'

Meanwhile, Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan believes the 71-year-old's desire to win is a major factor in his success.

He told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: 'He's maintained the desire to win, you can never take that away from him and what he has done over a period of time is he's mellowed.

'He's passed on certain responsibilities to individual people, he lets you work, he lets you get on with the job, he expects honesty and trust from you and I think he gets that.'

He added: 'His biggest strength is his leadership.

Instrumental: Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated the club's 20th league title on Monday evening

'He's put things in place over many many years and he's had that desire to win.

'And when you've got someone who's pushing and pushing and pushing it brings along a lot of people and if you're in that same frame of mind and you've got the same work ethic that he's got, then it can only be a benefit to everybody.

'He's definitely produced some excellent teams, some excellent players and I think it's been backed up by good quality staff.

'He's matured like a good bottle of red wine. He's got better and better with age and he's still going strong.'

Former England boss Steve McClaren replaced Brian Kidd as Ferguson's assistant in 1999 and was on the staff at United when they won the treble.

He stayed at Old Trafford until 2001, winning two more league titles before moving into management on his own with Middlesbrough.

Gifted: Scholes has been at the centre of United's midfield for a number of years

He has only tasted championship glory once since, winning the Eredivisie with FC Twente, but he is in no doubt as to the reason United keep piling up the titles.

'It's solely down to the manager,' he said.

'What he's created at Manchester United, the kind of culture and environment. It's the winning mentality that he has.'