A difference of opinion is emerging from various sources about who should have made the decision in relation to the England Captaincy.

As a matter of fact it seems clear that the authority to act in the way that they did vested in the Football Association. Sir Ferguson believes that the most important person should always be the manager and that his decision should be final.

I have a degree of sympathy with this view but I think that he is really talking about the type of manager that wouldn’t have needed this sort of intervention in the first place.

In an age where football becomes more and more professional in the boardroom, clearer corporate lines of responsibility are bound to be the norm. We all know that football teams (whether national or club) are “brands” and the owners of those brands would be failing in their duty if they didn’t intervene to protect the brand. In this sense the hierarchy at the FA would have been failing in their duty to have not intervened. PR is so important nowadays and is something that some (mainly) older managers don’t consider enough.

Sir Ferguson may wish for the continuation of an age where the manager is truly King.

Meanwhile in Boston I wonder if certain people are wishing the opposite, as one of the greatest “brands” in world sport is tarnished by their manager King?

As the summer 2011 transfer window approaches McHale Sports Division enters a busy time of the year for all matters Football. Since the final week of the Football League Season Darren and Tom have spent been out and about visiting Championship Clubs discussing Players which may move in and Players which may move out. The Premier League closes this weekend and plans which have already been formulated can be put into place for those clubs still awaiting the outcome of the final round of games to decide who stays and who drops out of the Premier League. With West Ham already gone it’s down to 2 from 5 teams for the final relegation places.

In addition, several of McHale Sports Division contracted Players may well be on the move this summer. This week has seen an increase in enquiries as to likely availability; one player is signed for Middlesbrough last week and at least two others may shortly follow him into the Championship this window.

Finally, it has been a good week for two thirds of the McHale Sports team with City winning the FA Cup and seemingly now on course to grab third spot in the League from Arsenal. Now the spotlight turns to United who, having secured a 19th Premier League title last week, go for another European Cup in the Champions League Final a week on Saturday against Barcelona…..Come on you Reds!!!