Eric Cantona has blasted Manchester United's directors for their treatment of manager Sir Alex Ferguson and called for Dutchman Johan Cruyff to be appointed as his successor. The charismatic Frenchman, who is currently taking part in a beach football festival in Dublin, is disappointed with the club's handling of his former manager. Ferguson is stepping down when his contract with the Premiership champions expires at the end of next season.
Cantona said that although a return to Old Trafford in a part-time coaching role is still an option for him, he denied that he has been actually offered a job. "What job? I have heard these stories but I just think some people are trying to use me. The press write many stories for different reasons," said Cantona. The Frenchman, who left United in 1997 after five successful years as a player, is due to work with the club's youth team for several weeks during the summer months. He would not expand on the exact nature of his role.
It had been reported that Sir Alex Ferguson had offered him a job coaching the Old Trafford youth team which could have led to him taking over as manager upon the Scot's retirement at the end of next season.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
