"I won't be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most," he said. "Without question. I can assure you of that."
Manchester United chief executive David Gill added today that Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz is 'well-placed' to succeed the Scot when he does decide to step down.
"We are making sure our squad is continually reviewed and improved as necessary and the age of the squad is right so that, when Alex does decide to retire, anyone taking over has a fantastic squad with the right age profile," Gill told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme. "We also have an assistant manager who will be very much in the frame in Carlos Queiroz.
"He's clearly a key part of our success. If you look at what Liverpool achieved in their very successful years during the '70s and '80s [that] was through internal appointments. Carlos is a key factor in all the success we've achieved over the last couple of seasons."
