Tony Coton has been forced to retire from his role as Goalkeeping
Coach after an operation failed to repair his ongoing knee
problems.
The 46-year-old will leave United when his contract expires in
June, and Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to pay tribute to a hugely
popular member of his staff.
"He's been a fantastic servant for the club, not just as a coach
but he's also a fantastic personality," he told his weekly press
conference. "He's always looked after all of our keepers. We're all
really going to miss him and we're very sad to see him go. It's
very sad because he's been a coach here for ten years.
"But obviously being a goalkeeping coach you have to be able to
kick the ball and play a part in the routines the keepers go
through and unfortunately that's going to be a problem for
him.
"We're looking at ways in which we can help him in other ways.
He'll be with us until the end of his contract in June and we'll
help him with his rehabilitation. Hopefully he'll find some other
interests."
Coton himself is hugely disappointed to be leaving, but says he has
fond memories which will stay with him forever.
Its unfortunate we reached this decision, but after speaking to
the surgeon and the medical staff at Manchester United I have been
advised to retire from coaching," he explained. "After two
operations in four months which have been successful in terms of
quality of life away from coaching, unfortunately, I will be unable
to carry on coaching.
"I have had ten fantastic years and the experience and memories are
what people dream about and I would like to thank everyone at
Manchester United, especially the first team staff that I have been
closely associated with over the last ten years. I can't go without
saying what a pleasure it has been working for the best manager in
the world, Sir Alex Ferguson, and I wish he and the team continued
success.
Sir Alex insists the Reds will wait until the summer before they
make a new appointment and says it is unlikely to be current No.1
stopper Edwin van der Sar.
"I've spoken to both Tony and Edwin about who would be a good
successor and both of them have made good points. It's not an easy
appointment to make, but hopefully we'll get the right man," said
the United boss.
"I don't think it will be Edwin. He wants to continue as a player
and doesn't know what he wants to do after he's finished playing.
That's fine and the right way to think about it because if he
starts thinking about all that at the moment it could affect his
performances and mental approach to it all.
"Come the summer we need to look at what we're going to do. Edwin
has got one more year after that and, of course, his profile would
be fantastic [for the job]. But that's something we'll look at in
the summer."