Friend claims Man U manager Ferguson won't step down any time soon

London, May 27(ANI): Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won't step down any time soon, according to his close friend and American broadcaster Charlie Stillitano.

Earlier Ferguson's old ally Wigan Athletic chief Dave Whelan had claimed that Ferguson would retire at the end of season following health concerns, but Stillitano denied any such possibility.

Ferguson was treated in hospital last Saturday after suffering a nosebleed, which left him in 'tremendous pain'.

"He [Ferguson] was laughing when I spoke to him on Friday and I said, 'Are you going to retire?' and he said, 'No, nothing has changed'. He is going to continue until it is his time to step down," The Telegraph quoted Stillitano, as saying.

"If you keep doing your profession at the top, you stay sharp, and that is what Sir Alex is thinking. He doesn't want to step down. Dave Whelan's comments are reasonable. He knows Sir Alex and everyone realises that, at 70, you have to start thinking about retirement, but maybe not [in Ferguson's case]," he added.

"I was in Munich when we heard about the 999 call for Ferguson and I was worried for the first couple of days until I spoke to him. He was in tremendous pain. He basically had a nosebleed, which wouldn't stop, and he was in pain. It can't be pleasant when you're 70 years old and you are bleeding uncontrollably - thoughts must enter everyone's head," he said.

Stillitano further said: "But I have been speaking to him every day and he has been getting better. He sounded terrific when I spoke to him on Friday." (ANI)