The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has been gagged by the Premier League after giving his backing for Harry Redknapp to be the next England manager.
Ferguson believes the Tottenham manager has the right credentials to replace Fabio Capello and, after stepping into the Scotland job following the death of Jock Stein in 1985, is perfectly placed to assess the difficulties anyone would have taking over immediately before a major tournament. However, it appears the game's authorities are not comfortable with Ferguson expressing his opinions, however useful an insight they offer.
Following Thursday's 3-2 Europa League defeat by Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford, Ferguson said the Premier League had told him to stop. "The Premier League has written to me asking me not to talk about the England manager's job," he said. "I don't know why."