“Your job now is to stand by our new manager.”
So said Alex Ferguson in 2013. Within a year, David Moyes was sacked and Louis van Gaal was being lined up as a replacement.
Nice as the sentiment was, footballing realities saw Ferguson’s words stand for little.
Dwight Yorke is hoping Ferguson’s words hold some weight, however.
The former Aston Villa and Manchester United striker feels he would be the perfect candidate to replace the sacked Remi Garde. Villa cut the Frenchman loose, last week, and currently have Eric Black as care-taker boss.
Yorke, who played almost 300 games for Villa in a nine-year spell, feels the club may err if they focus on experience over hard work and passion. He told talkSPORT:
“Sometimes you need someone with the know-how of a football club and someone who can bring a spark back to the club.
“And people fail to realise that I have won the Championship. The only time I have played outside the Premier League I won it with Sunderland so I have got a great understanding of what the Championship is as a player.
“So, not only am I familiar with the players, and the whole culture and history of Aston Villa Football Club but I am familiar with the Championship.
“I will apply [for the job] and I am doing that as we speak. I hope they will at least give me an interview.”
Later in his chat, Yorke revealed he had spoken with Ferguson about a hopeful step into management.
“He is endorsing me. He believes I can do it.
“I believe I can do it and it is about giving me the opportunity of at least having an interview.”
One can imagine Villa fans will care little if Ferguson thinks his former charge can get this listing behemoth back into the Premier League or not.
