Retired Fergie still raking in the cash
SIR Alex FERGUSON’S earning power shows no sign of weakening even though he retired as manager of Manchester united five years ago after winning 38 trophies over 27 years.
new accounts reveal that the Ferguson family company ACF Sports Promotions limited made a profit of £2.3million last year with reserves rising from £7.049m to £9.385m. Sir Alex, 76, and wife Cathy are directors of the company along with their three sons Jason, Mark and Darren, who are the sole shareholders. The business was set up in 1983 when Ferguson was Aberdeen boss.
Sir Alex’s main earning stream remains his lucrative role as a united ambassador, for which he is paid £2m a year for 20 days’ work.
He can also earn £100,000 for public speaking appearances and business seminars — on a par with former US President Bill Clinton. Both men are on the books of the renowned Harry Walker agency.
Jason, a former football agent, represents his father while Darren is manager of Doncaster Rovers and Mark a city financier.
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs, who meet in London today, are expected to vote on postponing the introduction of Video Assistant Referees until the 2019-20 season when the system will be more refined. But the importance of every point at this stage of the campaign means some clubs want VAR in the top flight from August. THE Football league hold their annual awards ceremony on Sunday, where the numerous overblown categories include EFL goal of the season. And with Wolves midfielder Ruben neves (right) scoring a superb volley against Derby on Wednesday, it seemed that the EFL, blighted this season by their shambolic Carabao Cup draws, had got their timing just right for a change. Alas, the best goal is judged from those scored in 2017 meaning neves’s super strike will not be fresh in the mind when it is considered for next year’s award.
AT a time when sports dinners find it increasingly difficult to attract star names, the annual Wisden dinner in the Lord’s Long Room to celebrate the launch of the almanac stands out as an admirable exception. So much so that the West Indies Cricket Board paid for batsman Shai Hope to fly over to be feted as one of the five cricketers of the year. Wisden also have the right formula for recognising their past winners, briefly standing up to be acknowledged by the guests rather than any overblown hype. Meanwhile, the ECB’s petty legal action against Cricinfo’s George Dobell for comments about their leadership, which the ruling body wanted to keep under wraps, has become such a cause celebre that it was even referred to by comedian Miles Jupp in his Wisden dinner speech.