Alex Ferguson favours switch to summer season

Sir Alex Ferguson is in favour of football changing seasons to become a summer game - but remains unconvinced it will ever happen.

UEFA president Michele Platini has in the past argued in favour of playing games in the summer although FIFA and UEFA say there are no concrete plans to change the calendar.

Ferguson, a long-time advocate of the winter break, sees some merits to playing in the summer.

However, whilst he does not feel competition from other areas of the leisure industry would be an issue, he does feel TV and other companies with a vested interest might be a far bigger stumbling block.

"For as long as I have been a coach I have been banging the drum about a winter break," said Ferguson.

"There is no doubt we don't utilise the best months of the year in terms of the fans, players and the states of pitches.

"People say there is too much opposition in the summer; cricket and rugby for instance, but nothing beats football. It is always going to be the best supported sport in the world.

"Playing it in the summer probably would be an advantage.

"But the tradition of the game being played in the winter has a strong argument too.

"TV and the pools companies have always had a big say about when the game is going to be run.

"That is why you don't get a winter break, because of TV."