 Sir Alex Ferguson has displayed no signs of slowing down |
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has said the club are scanning the European scene for possible successors to manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson, 62, has no immediate plans to retire after signing a one-year rolling extension to his contract.
But Gill told the club website he is determined the club will be prepared when Ferguson does end his reign.
"We keep our eye on managers but it is difficult - whoever today's hot star is might be cold tomorrow," said Gill.
Ferguson, who had a pacemaker fitted last season, has been at the United helm since 1986.
He announced plans to step down in 2001 before changing his mind and agreeing a new three-year deal at the club.
But Ferguson came under great pressure earlier in the season following a row with major United shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus. "We just monitor it and make sure we are aware of developments in European football management," Gill told the club's official website.
"It's not like a normal business where you can groom a number two internally because it is not always feasible.
"And, quite rightly, there are rules about targeting managers who are doing jobs with other clubs. "But as and when Sir Alex decides to retire, I am sure there will be no shortage of applicants."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Fabio Capello, Steve McClaren, Martin O'Neill and Marcello Lippi have all been linked with the job.
Gill also called for United to rediscover their competitive instincts in the Premiership after last season's meek surrendering of the title with two months to go.
A miserable run of form after Christmas saw United fall out of realistic contention as Arsenal stormed to the title, with United finishing third behind Chelsea. "You might not win the league every season but when we have lost it before, it has been towards the end of the season," he said.
"We need to be up there challenging into March, April and May. Then if you don't win it, at least you have made a great race of it. "We have got to get back to that. Winning the FA Cup was a great end to the season but what happened in the league was disappointing.
"We need to come out all guns blazing next season, so we get up there in the league and we reach the latter stages of the European Cup."
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We need to come out all guns blazing next season 
