MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes success-starved Newcastle United have paid the price for failing to give their managers sufficient time to deliver the goods.
Newcastle have failed to win a major honour since the 1969 European Fairs Cup and Sam Allardyce became the latest casualty at St James' Park when he was sacked on Wednesday after just eight months in charge.
The north-east club have now gone through 10 managers since Ferguson was appointed by United in 1986 and then allowed almost four years to win his first trophy and seven to bring the league title back to Old Trafford.
Ferguson told reporters on Friday: "If you analyse what's happened up there over the years they have had two managers who have won World Cups as players and four who have won European Cup as players, plus Sir Bobby Robson, as manager of England who took England to a World Cup semi-final.
"Bobby lasted five games into a season when he was sacked. It's beyond belief.
"You would think (Graeme) Souness, (Ruud) Gullit, (Kenny) Dalglish, all these great players, and Ossie Ardiles, Jackie Charlton, that one of them would have won something, given the right time."
Ferguson, who has spoken to Allardyce since his sacking, added: "Eight times this year I have had to talk about a premier division manager leaving and every time I say that there is a lack of patience.
DANGEROUS SITUATION
"The unfortunate thing for Sam was (Newcastle owner) Mike Ashley did not appoint him, it was Freddie Shepherd. That was maybe the most dangerous situation Sam found himself in.
"But it's amazing that the people who picked him, picked him on an outstanding CV with the work he did at Bolton, the experience and presence he had and yet after 24 games he's gone. I think it tells you everything about the modern day game.
"There was a lot of speculation but I still didn't see it happening. I don't know what you say about the situation up there, it's a strange club."
Ferguson said Newcastle would now be an unknown quantity when they visit at Old Trafford on Saturday under the guidance of caretaker-manager Nigel Pearson.
He said: "I don't know what to make of the game. Sometimes when a team loses a manger and appoints a new one then it can be difficult, as we found last year against West Ham. In this situation they don't have a manager."
United have won their last 10 home games in the Premier League to trail leaders Arsenal by just two points, while Newcastle have not tasted victory at Old Trafford since 1972.
Wes Brown will be missing through suspension for the champions, while fellow defender Gary Neville is not yet ready to make his first-team comeback. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves is a doubt with a rib injury.
(Editing by Trevor Huggins)
