“THE decision to retire is one I have thought about a great deal and one I haven’t taken lightly.”

This week the papers were full of stories about the Queen handing over to Prince Charles. So, when I saw these words flash across the screen, I thought she had made a clean break and decided to abdicate.

But no, it was the monarch of a very different glen going off into the gloaming. Sir Alex Ferguson is hanging up the hairdryer.

Sir Alex, the news bulletins told us, had made the announcement in “a statement”.

For as football royalty he doesn’t do anything as casual or off-the-cuff as nip out and have a word with a reporter or even phone the sports desk. He makes a statement. So if you were wondering about that clap of thunder and birds falling from the sky around 11am on Wednesday, now you know why.

That statement, and the reasons and timing of his departure have already been subject to more analysis than the Queen’s Speech.

I find that odd, as I have always felt that Ferguson’s way of working – sorry, his footballing philosophy – is simplicity itself.

A refusal to tinker with winning formulas or fall for hyped-up superstars, attention to detail and ferocious discipline, identifying talent early and not overhyping young players are what it was all about. It may also help that his club‘s wage structure still has some vague connection with reality. That is the best you can hope for in the Premiership.

Above all Ferguson has brought stability to his club. It can’t be coincidence that the two clubs that have enjoyed the most sustainable success – United and Arsenal – are those that have stuck with the same bosses through good and bad times.

It’s the happy place that every other club wants to get to and they’ll hire and fire a dozen managers a season if they think it will get them there quicker.

Ferguson will be a club ambassador where his even temper and sunny disposition will no doubt stand him in good stead. When David Moyes picks up his paperwork he will probably find the words “being compared on daily basis to previous post holder” in the job description.

Within the space of five minutes yesterday I heard Moyes described as a new broom, a manager cut from the same cloth as Ferguson, his own man and a younger version of Sir Alex. Legends cast a long shadow.

Those shadows will lengthen when United get beaten or the unthinkable happens and they have a bad run.

Then the phone-in lines will be jammed by the wise-after-the-event merchants and the “Bring back Ferguson” campaign will get into gear. Old footage of the 1974 relegation will be dusted off and we’ll all laugh at Tommy Docherty’s flares.

Hopefully, the new manager will keep his nerve and the old one keep a statesmanlike silence.

I genuinely hope Ferguson enjoys his retirement.

He was one of the few managers who seemed to realise there was a world outside of football. He will be missed, but judging by their demeanour at the races on Wednesday, his players were keeping a lid on their grief.

He has certainly left his mark and it is unlikely that there will be a more successful manager over the next 30 years or so. Although he has enjoyed his time in charge, I am pretty sure he will enjoy his time upstairs in the boardroom where he will have the time to do other things, such as a day at the races.