At big clubs, it’s absolutely paramount that the board show their class.

Fergie wades into Liverpool row

Sir Alex Ferguson has entered the debate about Rafael Benítez's increasingly precarious position at Liverpool by accusing the club's owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks of lacking "class".

The Manchester United manager said for the first time that he believes Liverpool are out of the title race and he questioned whether they would ever be regarded as serious challengers while there were so many political problems behind the scenes at Anfield. - Daniel Taylor, Guardian

"At big clubs, it’s absolutely paramount that the board show their class. Arsène Wenger has had great support at Arsenal and I’ve had great support, too, ever since I came here. So there’s a certain type of unity there." Sir Alex Ferguson on the importance of board room backing for a manager.

"I have to agree with what Sir Alex Ferguson says in this article, if a club wants to stay in the elite of their country, the board of directors have to show their class and maturity in order to keep the club in the top.

Players, coach, manager, director, fans have to show their unity in order to maintain the club at his best... but let's not forget that it is the board of directors duties to manage all these in the best interest of the club.

I remember the time, some years ago, when the big Real Madrid was winning nearly every game with Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul and Roberto Carlos... the board of directors decided not to level up Makelele salary to the other stars... as a result: he left the club. From that date, Real Madrid started to sink and never totaly recovered. The same club hired Fabio Capello as coach and sacked him, even when he brought back Real Madrid and became Champion.

Yes, I agree with Fergie... a touch of class is needed to be a big club board of director member." - Philippe De Ridder