Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that David Moyes made a mistake by sacking Mike Phelan when he took charge of the club.

Phelan had been part of Ferguson's coaching staff at Old Trafford, but Moyes opted to part company with the Englishman when he succeeded Ferguson in the Old Trafford hotseat following his retirement in 2013.

Ferguson has said that Phelan could have helped Moyes to settle into the job and learn more about how the club works.

"I'm sure there are things that David would do differently if he had the opportunity to relive his time at Old Trafford," the Scot wrote in his new book Leading.

"Such as keeping Mike Phelan who would have been the invaluable guide to the many layers of the club that Ryan Giggs is to Louis van Gaal today.

"There is no point suddenly changing routines that players are comfortable with. It is counterproductive, saps morale and immediately provokes players to question the new man's motives. A leader who arrives in a new setting, or inherits a big role, needs to curb the impulse to display his manhood."

Moyes was in charge of United for nine months before he was sacked in April 2014.