It was my wife's idea, claims Alex

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that his wife, Cathy, and three sons, Mark, Darren and Jason, helped him change his mind about retiring as Manchester United manager.

It was over Christmas that the family suggested he should reconsider his decision to quit in May.

"It was really Cathy's idea," 60-year-old Ferguson said. "If she hadn't come up with it and the boys hadn't given full support, I wouldn't have considered a change of mind.

"But I do have to confess that maybe it was an idea I was hoping deep down she would come up with.

"I'll tailor the job a little differently to reduce the workload a bit." Back in August, Ferguson's family persuaded him into his initial decision to leave management because they were worried about his health.

"I don't feel any different and I don't feel as though I'm stressed," he said at the time. "But maybe you're not always the best judge of yourself in these things."