IN itself football doesn’t interest me. The acquisition of trophies is as pointless as the list Moll Flanders was able to make of the possessions she had stolen from other people who she had outwitted when she awaited judgement about whether she was to be hanged or exported.

Sir Alex Ferguson was more than a football manager.

He had been a shop steward and was interested in theatre.

He realised the value of leadership and that it involved not only enthusiasm but thinking ahead with a clear vision. To me, he was arrogant and insufferable, but he had qualities of leadership which would not go amiss in business and politics What has struck me most about him is the fact he had the gift to know when he should move out of the limelight.

All of us have to make our exits and our entrances and timing is most important.

G Bulmer, Billingham.

SIR Alex Ferguson’s career during his time at Manchester United, and before that at St Mirren and Aberdeen, is without parallel in British football. He deserves his accolades, but respect comes a little harder.

The club and its supporters will certainly miss him,but this may not be the case in the wider football community.

During his time at United he’s often bought the game into disrepute and in some cases come pretty close to slandering the game’s officials. Ferguson rarely has the grace to admit defeat by a better team. His after-match rants usually cite that the game has gone on too long or not long enough; they were denied a penalty or should have had one; the other team were playing in the wrong colour shirts and, when all else fails, he accuses the officials of being unfair.

The FA should long ago have taken a firmer stance against coaches, and Ferguson in particular, in this regard.

Post-match comments are generally a commercial obligation but using this forum to accuse officials of what amounts to dishonesty should not be tolerated.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.