Leadership in Crisis
On the Verge of being sacked
Ferguson was appointed manager at Old Trafford on 6 November 1986.His first job was to lift United away from the foot of the table after Ron Atkinson had steered the club to trouble. This he accomplished, but problems remained, United's reputation as a boozing club was not without foundation and Ferguson tackled the situation head-on. In addition, he revamped the youth team system, a decision that would repay a hundred fold. He paid minute attention to every detail of club life, first to arrive and last to leave was his attitude. Mark Hughes returned from Barcelona Steve Bruce ,Brian McClair , Gary Pallister and Paul Ince arrived but United were adrift of champions Liverpool. Though finishing an admirable second in 1988, 1989 brought dour anti-climax as the reds finished 11th.
Popular performers such as Whiteside, McGrath and Gordon Strachan departed. In September, United suffered a humiliating 5–1 away defeat against fierce rivals Manchester City. Following this and an early season run of six defeats and two draws in eight games, a banner declaring "Three years of excuses and it's still crap. Ta ra Fergie." was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked. Ferguson later described December 1989 as "the darkest period he had ever suffered in the game", as United ended the decade just outside the relegation zone.
Martin Edwards (Man Utd. Chairman) always denies it, but Fergie's job was on a knife-edge and it all came to a head in the 3rd Round FA Cup game away to Nottingham Forest. If United lost Fergie would have been sacked, no question about it. If the same situation had been in today's high pressure football world Fergie would have gone long before then. However, luckily for United, despite a disallowed Forest goal, Mark Robbins struck the winner and United had a narrow 1-0 win. United went on to win the FA Cup that season, playing every round away from...
