Sir Alex Ferguson has accused David Moyesof putting his "manhood" beforeManchester United in a scathing outburst about the changes made by his fellow Scot that he claims were "counter-productive" to the ambitions of the club.
Ferguson championed the cause of the then Evertonmanager Moyes to succeed him at Old Trafford in 2013, but was disappointed with the outcome as Moyes was dismissed 10 months later with United a lowly seventh in the Premier League table.
In his new book 'Leading', Ferguson is critical of the Real Sociedad manager's approach to the job in the early days, particularly his decision to change the club's backroom staff that had been built up by his fellow Scot.
This included parting company with Mike Phelan, who had been Fergie's number two at United.
"We chose David Moyes. He had been consistent in his job at Everton, had a good spell there, 11 years, and showed appetite," said Ferguson, who took four years to win his first trophy as United manager after arriving from Aberdeen in 1986.
"I'm sure there are things David would do differently if he had the opportunity. Such as keeping Mick Phelan (Ferguson's assistant) who would have been the invaluable guide to the many layers of the club that (number two) Ryan Giggs is to Louis van Gaal today.
"There is no point suddenly changing routines that players are comfortable with. It is counter-productive, saps morale and immediately provokes players to question the new man's motives.
"A leader who arrives in a new setting, or inherits a big role, needs to curb the impulse to display his manhood."
OUR VIEW
In a week when Moyes is feeling the heat in Spain with his Real Sociedad side drawing and losing two of their opening four matches in La Liga, he could probably do without having to concern himself with the past. As United's most successful manager, Fergie is probably right when he says Moyes should have done things differently, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing. Fergie also has to shoulder the blame for leaving Moyes with a fairly poor United team, who somehow won the Premier League in 2013, but looked out on their feet a season later. A number of factors contributed to Moyes' demise. Not just deciding against keeping Fergie's men in place. Which could in itself merely have added to his problems.
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