Darren Ferguson linked with sentimental return to management at EFL club

Darren Ferguson could soon be reunited with some very familiar faces.

The 54-year-old has been out of work since he was sacked by Peterborough United last October.

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However, Ferguson has been tipped for a return to the dugout in the near future.

Who are the contenders to become the new Salford City manager?

According to talkSPORT BET, Ferguson is the big favourite to take the reins at League Two side Salford City.

The fourth tier side are on the hunt for a new manager after they sacked Karl Robinson just over a week following a play-off final defeat to Notts County.

Ferguson is the front-runner to replace Robinson at 2/1, with Darren Moore (6/1), David Artell (8/1) and Steve Bruce (10/1) among the contenders.

How young Fergie’s Man United ties could work in his favour

Should Ferguson be given the role, it would mark a professional reunion with David Beckham and Gary Neville, who are co-owners of Salford.

Ferguson, the son of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, was on Manchester United’s books from 1990 to 1994.

The midfielder’s time at United overlapped with Beckham and Neville, although the latter two didn’t properly break into the team until after Ferguson moved to Wolves.

Other Red Devils figures involved with Salford include Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, who are not co-owners like Beckham and Neville but have roles within the club across their technical, football, commercial and recruitment departments.

As for Ferguson, the Salford gig would be the fourth different club he’s managed in his post-playing career.

Ferguson’s managerial career at a glance

The 54-year-old has made stops at Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough, who he has managed on four separate occasions.

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Ferguson began his managerial journey with the Posh in 2007, where he hauled them all the way from League Two up to the Championship before departing in November 2009.

A year in charge at Preston then followed before he returned to Peterborough for a second stint in January 2011.

Although he failed to repeat his promotion heroics, Ferguson did lead the Posh to the EFL Trophy in the 2013/14 campaign.

After leaving Peterborough in February 2015, he moved to Doncaster Rovers.

Ferguson oversaw the club’s relegation from League One but immediately guided the team back to the third tier via automatic promotion.

He then resigned in June 2018 having ensured Rovers’ safety in League One before returning to Peterborough for a third time in January 2019 following Steve Evans’ dismissal.

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Once again Ferguson got the Posh back into the Championship but resigned in February 2022 after a defeat to Derby County left them five points adrift of safety.

Yet Ferguson couldn’t stay away from London Road as he returned to the club for a remarkable fourth stint in January 2023.

He led the Posh to two more EFL Trophy victories but could not get the club promoted to the Championship.

In total, Ferguson managed 678 games for Peterborough across all competitions since he first started in 2007.

Salford would mark an entirely different challenge though should Ferguson be offered the role.

The 54-year-old’s primary objective would be to get Salford promoted into League One, a division they have never reached in the club’s 86-year history.

Ferguson’s record of promotions – five to be exact – will be a major factor in Salford’s thinking, especially given the club has sat in League Two purgatory for seven seasons since being promoted from the National League.