Manchester United (United 11/5 to win the Premier League outright) manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have a key role in deciding his successor, according to chief executive David Gill.
Speculation over when the United boss will retire from management has continued after his side missed out on the Premier League title to Chelsea this season.
Gill has stated that Ferguson has not made any decision on when he will retire but the Scot alongside England legend Sir Bobby Charlton and the club’s owner will choose from a “small pool” of candidates to decide the next manager.
Gill said: “I think Alex will be the key. He knows people. He will have a big role in advising and being a sounding board. I am sure we will talk with the owners and look at who is there and determine who we would like to appoint.
“It would be remiss of us not to use the expertise and knowledge that we have,” he added.
Ferguson has stated that his health would be the only factor in deciding when he would retire from football.
Speculation that the new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be taking reins at Old Trafford after the Bernabeu has continued and the United chief executive would not state whether the two-time Champions League winner is favourite to be the next manager.
Gill said: “He has certainly got something about him. He’s a winner.”
Mourinho has revealed that he would like to work with United and England striker Wayne Rooney, but whether this is at Madrid or in Manchester is unclear.
However, Florentino Perez is supposedly talking to representatives at Old Trafford about potentially signing the player as they claim they can reach the club’s valuation for the forward.
Rooney is currently training with the England (Rooney 10/1 to be the top goalscorer at the World Cup) squad ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
England will face Japan in their final pre season match on Sunday before the 23 man squad is announced.
Avoiding injury, Rooney is guaranteed a seat on the plane to South Africa and any potential deal with Real Madrid would be likely to take place after the tournament which could increase the player’s valuation if he has a successful tournament.