Sports / Soccer
Vengeful Sir Alex Ferguson orders Preston loan stars back to ManU
31 Dec 2010 at 13:51hrs | Views
Vengeful Sir Alex Ferguson orders Preston loan stars back to Manchester United after son Darren is sacked
Sir Alex Ferguson vented his fury over son Darren's sacking yesterday by demanding the return of all three on-loan Manchester United players at Preston.
Deepdale bosses had just terminated Ferguson Jnr's contract after 11 months and placed former Everton defender David Unsworth in temporary charge when Ritchie de Laet, Josh King and Matty James were summoned back to Old Trafford with immediate effect.
The faxed message made it clear Ferguson disapproved of his son's treatment , despite Preston languishing at the foot of the npower Championship, and left Unsworth short of options for tomorrow's match with Derby.
Belgian defender De Laet and Norwegian forward King have already returned to United's Carrington training ground, though the terms of James's season-long agreement mean Ferguson, who is 69 today, may have to wait to end his stay at Preston.
The deals for De Laet and King were not due to expire until after the Bank Holiday double-header against Derby and Crystal Palace, and chairman Maurice Lindsay said: 'It has come as a shock to us and a big blow.
'What a baptism of fire for David, to be told, within half an hour of starting the job, that two or three of your best players have been summoned back.'
Ferguson's decision to cut short all three loan deals has increased the relegation gloom around Deepdale and left Unsworth with problems at the back, where the versatile De Laet has proved one of Preston's most consistent performers this season.
Midfielder James is supposed to be on loan until May but faces a quandary as he is currently undergoing treatment for an injury at Carrington.
With Ferguson adamant no United players should remain at Preston in the wake of his 38-year-old son's departure, his days at the Championship strugglers could be numbered.
In an attempt to safeguard their relationship with United, Preston's owner Trevor Hemmings spoke to Ferguson twice before telling Darren he was sacked, such was the anxiety at Deepdale about the implications of their decision.
As well as lending players to Preston, Ferguson allowed them to take advantage of United's undersoil heating system at Carrington and train there last week.
Hemmings, an old friend of Ferguson's, desperately wanted Darren to succeed but ultimately accepted that a personal friendship might have to be sacrificed for the good of the club.
Midfielder Richard Chaplow joined the player exodus by completing a £50,000 move to Southampton, following a three-month loan spell, but Unsworth at least bolstered his squad by signing Barnsley loanee Iain Hume on a permanent deal.
Sir Alex Ferguson vented his fury over son Darren's sacking yesterday by demanding the return of all three on-loan Manchester United players at Preston.
Deepdale bosses had just terminated Ferguson Jnr's contract after 11 months and placed former Everton defender David Unsworth in temporary charge when Ritchie de Laet, Josh King and Matty James were summoned back to Old Trafford with immediate effect.
The faxed message made it clear Ferguson disapproved of his son's treatment , despite Preston languishing at the foot of the npower Championship, and left Unsworth short of options for tomorrow's match with Derby.
Belgian defender De Laet and Norwegian forward King have already returned to United's Carrington training ground, though the terms of James's season-long agreement mean Ferguson, who is 69 today, may have to wait to end his stay at Preston.
The deals for De Laet and King were not due to expire until after the Bank Holiday double-header against Derby and Crystal Palace, and chairman Maurice Lindsay said: 'It has come as a shock to us and a big blow.
'What a baptism of fire for David, to be told, within half an hour of starting the job, that two or three of your best players have been summoned back.'
Ferguson's decision to cut short all three loan deals has increased the relegation gloom around Deepdale and left Unsworth with problems at the back, where the versatile De Laet has proved one of Preston's most consistent performers this season.
Midfielder James is supposed to be on loan until May but faces a quandary as he is currently undergoing treatment for an injury at Carrington.
With Ferguson adamant no United players should remain at Preston in the wake of his 38-year-old son's departure, his days at the Championship strugglers could be numbered.
In an attempt to safeguard their relationship with United, Preston's owner Trevor Hemmings spoke to Ferguson twice before telling Darren he was sacked, such was the anxiety at Deepdale about the implications of their decision.
As well as lending players to Preston, Ferguson allowed them to take advantage of United's undersoil heating system at Carrington and train there last week.
Hemmings, an old friend of Ferguson's, desperately wanted Darren to succeed but ultimately accepted that a personal friendship might have to be sacrificed for the good of the club.
Midfielder Richard Chaplow joined the player exodus by completing a £50,000 move to Southampton, following a three-month loan spell, but Unsworth at least bolstered his squad by signing Barnsley loanee Iain Hume on a permanent deal.
Source - Daily Mail
