Sir Bobby Charlton has insisted that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has no intention of retiring in the near future as the Scot reaches his 25th year in charge at Old Trafford.

The 69-year-old coach originally planned to leave the helm in Manchester almost a decade ago, and since then has not confirmed a specific time as to when he will retire from the game.

Charlton, who is on the board of directors at United, believes that the Scotsman is not close to relinquishing his role with the Red Devils.

"I don't think he will make another decision again about when he goes," said Charlton. "He's done it once, it didn't work, and I don't think he'll do it again. He'll go on and on and on. Absolutely. You'll have to put up with him for a while yet.

"He's a genius. The number of times when you think he's gone a bridge too far. Who would have said what the team would be now at the beginning of the season?

"But he's done it. He's not afraid to do it. Even when people thought players were too young, he didn't. Cleverley's come in and all the young lads have started to blossom. He just talks to them and they listen."

Ferguson began his career with the Premier League champions in 1986.