United board to seek Ferguson's viewpoint

As Manchester United prepare to face Newcastle tonight in the first test of their rediscovered form, the club's board is ready to ask Sir Alex Ferguson whether he is prepared to stay on as manager for another year, according to reports.

As Manchester United prepare to face Newcastle tonight in the first test of their rediscovered form, the club's board is ready to ask Sir Alex Ferguson whether he is prepared to stay on as manager for another year, according to reports.

The United board is thought to have called talks for next week to sound out Ferguson, who last week said: "You never know what might happen," when asked about his scheduled retirement at the end of the season.

The club have identified the England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill as possible replacements, but neither will be available in the summer. United's chief executive Peter Kenyon, who had given up any possibility of Ferguson remaining at the helm, would welcome the extra time to appoint a suitable successor.

The United board is also aware that the Irish businessmen and racing associates of Ferguson, JP McManus and John Magnier, continue to work behind the scenes to get a bigger stake in the club. Should the pair gain the financial clout they seek, they would also keep Ferguson for another year.

For today's visit of Newcastle, Ruud van Nistelrooy ­ who spent a year honing his skills under the Newcastle manager Bobby Robson at PSV Eindhoven ­ could once more be partnered up front by Ryan Giggs following their electrifying display against Fulham. Ferguson said he devised the partnership for away matches and that he had planned to use them together before Giggs injured his hamstring.

"It's something we were going to try in Munich when Ryan got his hamstring injury," Ferguson said. "It's something I wanted to try away from home, and Ryan's pace and ability to beat men is a real threat to opponents."

Giggs sat out Monday's training session along with David Beckham, Phil Neville, Laurent Blanc and Fabien Barthez, but all five are expected to be available today. Juan Sebastian Veron could return after he missed the Fulham game with a sore knee.

A doubt for Robson is the French midfielder Laurent Robert (hip), while the Magpies' manager will make a late assessment of Kieron Dyer, who is feeling the effects of nine games in 24 days since his return from injury.

Jean Tigana believes Fulham need fresh investment to stop their debut Premiership season falling apart.

The Frenchman, whose side go into tonight's game at lowly Derby positioned just above the relegation scramble, is being forced to reconsider his targets after failing in a reported late bid for Andy Cole, who moved to Blackburn from Manchester United.

"We played very well against Liverpool but lost much of our energy," Tigana said. "We paid for it against Tottenham when we had no legs because the players were very tired. That's why we need a big squad. It's possible that I need to bring in one or two new players."

Fulham's £11.5m striker Steve Marlet, who scored his first goal for the club last weekend, will be hoping for a place in the starting line-up.

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