Keane: Ferguson 'hanging on like a bad smell'

Roy Keane accused Alex Ferguson of "hanging on like a bad smell" at Manchester United as the club set about replacing departed manager Ruben Amorim.

Following Amorim's exit, Manchester United have commenced the search for their seventh permanent manager - excluding interim managers - since Ferguson retired in May 2013.

Keane, who fell out with Ferguson in spectacular fashion in late 2005, called into question his former manager's prominence at Old Trafford as he questioned who was making the decisions at the club regarding managerial appointments.

"What happens in these job interviews? I'm intrigued," Keane said on Sky Sports.

"Why do they keep giving certain people a job? What happens in the interview that they sit there and go, and 12, 14 months later, 'He's not the guy for us’.

"Do you not suss that out when you speak to them? You look somebody in the eye and go…

"You see who’s making the decisions at Manchester United. You still have Ferguson and David Gill hanging on like a bad smell.

"Who’s making the decisions? Ratcliffe, Wilcox?"

Last season, it was reported that Ferguson would be leaving his ambassadorial role with the club. However, he remains a non-executive director and their latest interim manager Darren Fletcher disclosed that he had spoken to the legendary manager before taking on the role ahead of this week's 2-2 draw with Burnley.

"I've got a really good relationship with Sir Alex, so I wanted to speak to him first and ultimately to get his blessing, to be perfectly honest with you. I think he deserves that respect," Fletcher said.

Keane subsequently backed Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe as his preferred candidate to take over at Old Trafford, suggesting his temperament made him the right fit.

"I'd go with Eddie Howe. I like him," Keane said.

"I like what he's done. He's managed a lot of games. When his teams are at it, they'll play good football. He has his critics, but I like what he's done at Newcastle. He's managed seven or 800 games. He's still a young man. I love his calmness. Maybe Man Utd need a little bit of that.

"We've seen with our previous [appointments], we like people with emotions, but he's got that calmness. The job he's done at Newcastle, Champions League and winning a cup, I'd be happy to see him go in there."