Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly considering retirement, in an amazing turnaround of events just a few weeks after winning the club's 20th league title and the 13th since he took charge at Old Trafford in 1986.
Reports in the British press suggest United are set to make a statement on the revered manager's future, with the squad told to expect an announcement soon.
Some of the United players were at a golf tournament between the players and coaches at Dunham Massey, with sources suggesting the players were told to expect an announcement from the manager ahead of United's Premier League game against Swansea at the weekend, according to widespread reports in the British press.
The club have not yet made any statement either denying or confirming the reports. However, the club will be forced to issue some sort of explanation soon, due to their flotation in the New York Stock Exchange to avoid any sudden fall of their stock prices and also to assuage their investors.
Ferguson is expected to make a public appearance at the Chester Races Wednesday for a planned day out with the players, and an announcement on his future could be imminent.
The stunning development comes only a few days after the club confirmed England's most successful manager would undergo hip surgery in the summer.
Ferguson, though, had also insisted he had absolutely no plans to retire and wanted to continue on for a few more years, although he did admit his health would be the ultimate deciding factor.
"I don't have any plans to walk away from what I believe will be something special and worth being around to see," Ferguson said in his programme notes ahead of the English Premier League game against Chelsea last weekend.
"This team of champions is not going away -- we are here for the long ride.
"It's always difficult in football to be absolutely sure of the future because the game has a habit of tripping you up.
"We will get better and if we apply ourselves in our normal fashion I see our 20th league title as nothing but the start of another decade of success.
"Whether I will be here to oversee another decade of success remains to be seen.
"I don't live in a fantasy world but I believe we have every reason to feel confident about the future of Manchester United. "
If Ferguson does indeed walk away after 27 years of unprecedented success, it will be interesting to see who takes over the reins, with David Moyes looking like the most likely candidate at the moment.
Although, there is a possibility of Jose Mourinho making a switch from Real Madrid to Manchester United, with bookmakers slashing the odds on the Portuguese being the next manager at Old Trafford, despite him being the favorite to take over at Chelsea next season.
