Darragh MacAnthony believes Fergie should be managing a bigger club than Posh...but he’s backing him to lead the club to a top half finish in the Championship

Darragh MacAnthony believes Darren Ferguson should be managing a bigger club than Posh!
Darragh MacAnthony and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion from League One in 2009.Darragh MacAnthony and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion from League One in 2009.
Darragh MacAnthony and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion from League One in 2009.

The club co-owner insists his first-team boss hasn’t received the recognition his talent and record demands.

Ferguson has now won five promotions in a 14-year managerial career which started when MacAnthony plucked him from the Wrexham Academy to replace Keith Alexander in the London Road hotseat in January, 2007.

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Four of those promotions have been won at Posh and three have led the club into the Championship - one in each of his three spells at the club.

Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony with goalkeeper Christy Pym after promotion was secured. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony with goalkeeper Christy Pym after promotion was secured. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony with goalkeeper Christy Pym after promotion was secured. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Before MacAnthony and Ferguson got together Posh had only spent two seasons in the second tier of English football in their history.

“In my eyes Darren Ferguson deserves a bigger club than Peterborough United,” MacAnthony said. “He should already have had a long career in the Championship, but you don’t always get what you deserve in football.

“He won promotions at the start of his career with us. He once went away and won a promotion elsewhere and now he’s back and won another one with us.

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“Four promotions with the same club can’t have happened very often. But sometimes a job will go to a face or a name and not to someone with a strong record.

“Obviously we’re glad he’s with us. I love him and my partners love him. Thankfully Darren loves our club and he’s here to stay.

“Darren is the perfect manager for us and for what we are trying to achieve.

“In all our promotions together he’s been calm and professional. He’s always much calmer than me and it was the same this season.

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“When we stuffed up against Doncaster I was steaming, but I stayed behind to make sure Darren was okay. Well of course he was. You can’t buy the experience he has in these situations.

“Darren’s had a great staff with him as well. Massive respect to Mark Robson, Mark Tyler, the science staff and the fitness guys. Everyone has played a part.

“But I want Darren to now become a top half Championship manager with us. The logical next step is to take the club to next level and I wouldn’t put it past him.”

*Neil Warnock (8) has won the most EFL promotions as a manager. Graham Taylor, Dave Bassett and Jim Smith have seven.

Bassett (Wimbledon), Taylor (Watford) and Dario Gradi (Crewe) have won four promotions with the same club.