Ferguson agrees new deal with Man U

Alex Ferguson has agreed to a new three-year contract as manager of Manchester United, the English champions said on Wednesday.

United said in a one-paragraph statement to the Stock Exchange that Ferguson, who took over in 1986, has agreed a contract running from July 1, 2002 until June 30, 2005.

The club had revealed on February 5 that they were in contract talks with the 60-year-old Scot, who had said last May he would be retiring at the end of this season.

But a combination of the club's failure to find a successor and Ferguson's passion for the team, after they overcame a dip in form with a string of victories, has convinced both sides that the manager should stay on.

Having won 12 of their last 13 league games, United are top of the table and on course to make history as the first club to win four consecutive English league titles.

Wednesday's announcement came hours after his team demolished Nantes 5-1 at Old Trafford in the Champions League, a victory which makes them runaway favourites to reach the quarter-finals of the money-spinning tournament.

Ferguson revealed earlier this month that his decision to seek a new contract came at the suggestion of his wife Cathy.

"If she hadn't come up with it and the boys (his three sons) hadn't given full support, I would not have considered a change of mind," he was quoted as saying in the Scotsman newspaper.

"But I do have to confess that maybe it was an idea I was hoping deep down she would come up with."

His decision earlier this month had been welcomed by the United squad, with experienced defender Gary Neville saying it was music to their ears.