• Premier League

Moyes underestimated size of United, says Ferguson

David Moyes was sacked as Manchester United manager earlier this year after leading the club in their worst league campaign for a quarter of a century © Getty Images

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Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected suggestions that he acted improperly in choosing David Moyes as his successor and believes his fellow Scot failed at Manchester United partly because he did not understand the size of the club.

Ferguson insisted he behaved "thoroughly and professionally" in nominating Moyes, who did not win a trophy in his 11-year reign at Everton, to take over when he retired in 2013.

Moyes was sacked after just 296 days in charge during United's worst season in a quarter of a century but Ferguson believes he should not be blamed.

Writing in a new chapter of his 2013 book, My Autobiography, Ferguson reveals: "There appears to be an accepted view out there that there was no process. Nonsense. We feel we did everything the right way: quietly, thoroughly, professionally."

In the chapter, quoted by the Guardian, Ferguson said part of the reason for Moyes' troubles was that: "He hadn't realised just how big United is as a club."

Moyes ignored Ferguson's advice to retain Mike Phelan as his assistant as he chose to bring Steve Round, Jimmy Lumsden, Chris Woods and Phil Neville with him from Everton as members of his backroom team.

Moyes offered Rene Meulensteen a role at Old Trafford but the Dutchman rejected it as three of Ferguson's lieutenants - including goalkeeping coach Eric Steele - left Old Trafford in 2013.

Ferguson wrote: "Maybe David felt that at such a massive club he had to be sure that all corners were covered in terms of his support system. I felt that network was already there, with plenty of great people already in important slots."

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