Ferguson grateful for call from ex-Manchester United boss to Caley Thistle
Duncan Ferguson admits Sir Alex Ferguson’s surprise intervention at Caley Thistle was just typical of the man as wild rumours swirled around his future this week.
The Everton hero and the legendary former Manchester United manager are friends and Fergie felt moved to phone Alan Savage, the ex-chairman guiding ICT’s financial recovery, to urge him to stick by big Dunc amid a difficult League One start.
It is not known whether there was a genuine possibility of the former Rangers, Newcastle and Scotland striker leaving.
But the Fergie call certainly had a huge impact on Savage, a Man Utd die-hard and season ticket-holder, who mentioned it at a press call on the wiping out of over £3 million in club debt.
While a minority of fans have voiced discontent over results and a lack of goals, others recognise the challenges of working with a very young squad, against a chaotic club backdrop.
Ferguson has found himself without basics such as player lunches, fitness monitors and training equipment.
Big Dunc has also taken a huge pay cut to save jobs, along with other members of staff.
Sir Alex has vowed to help ICT in any way he can, and the younger Ferguson said: “Sir Alex is a great man, a legend of the game - the king.
"He knows we all go through difficult times in our career and he has supported many managers over the years.
"I feel very privileged to regard him as a friend. It's great he is supporting me, as he has others up and down the country.
“Around 1996, he tried to sign me while I was at Everton. I got injured and it stopped the transfer.
“I was an Everton man and I loved the club, but Sir Slex is God, isn’t he?
“I got closer to him, really, through big Sam Allardice who introduced us and it went from there.
“He’s helped me through my career as a manager and is always there for advice. He’s a loyal, straight man and I’ll always lean on guys like him.”
Ferguson joked about Sir Alex sourcing him players but is deadly serious about the need to act on Savage’s offer to fund signings.
He added: “I can’t say for sure, but I believe, at average age 21, we have the youngest team in Britain.
“It’s where we are and what we’ve got. I’m positive about the players, they are a good squad, but very inexperienced - some are untried at this level.
“I’m thankful that Alan is going to try to help us identify one, maybe two players, but it is hard because we’re so far down the line.
“We were outstanding in the second half against Montrose, and stuck to our principles, but the hardest part of football is putting the ball in the net.”