By PETER WHITE SIR Alex Ferguson blames the media for highlighting certain controversial aspects of his new book, such as the stinging criticism of Blackburn Rovers boss Brian Kidd, who served him faithfully for so long as his assistant at Old Trafford.

But he clearly has no regrets and stands by everything he has written in the book, saying: "You have to tell the truth. There's no point fudging things."

When I asked him if, in view of the long and successful relationship he had with Kidd, he had any regrets about his criticism of the Rovers boss he answered that he had tried to state exactly what had happened.

"I have related facts that happened last summer and which I feared left me vulnerable and lonely," he said.

"You can only understand that if you have been through it as a football manager.

"There are periods when you are lonely and you can accept that.

"But it's difficult for a manager when you feel vulnerable and lonely and that was a very, very crucial period in my career at Manchester United.

"It was a difficult period for me to go through.

"It's difficult to put in place exactly what was going on to be honest with you.

"I have tried to portray the facts as they happened last summer and obviously the media have highlighted another angle.

"But it's difficult for me to make judgments.

"I don't want to either."

The Manchester United boss was clearly uncomfortable with the spin-off reports from the serialisation of his book, written in conjunction with Hugh McIlvanney.

And, speaking at the launch of his autobiography 'Managing My Life' at Old Trafford. he had a light-hearted snipe at the media.

"The serialisation is not a problem really, it's all the rest of the pieces," he said.

"Everyone can cut off anything you like and it doesn't matter how well something is written in a book, you'll soon make sure it's better than it really is!

"It's something I've had to bite the bullet with, the way all the controversy has come out because I think it's a book that's truthful. I don't tell lies.

"I'm a bit black and white certainly - maybe that's a fault of mine. But I'm not going to regret that in my life."

Co-author Hugh McIlvanney said: "What anybody who reads the book will have to acknoweldge - whether you like the book or not - you would have to admit it's neither slight nor superficial.

"And it is a book about a life, it's not just a book about a football career.

"One of the most attractive parts of it for me obviously was that Alex had an absolute compulsion to tell the truth about everything we discussed."

Later Ferguson re-iterated his thoughts about not judging Kidd and praised him for his contribution to United.

He said: "I didn't make any judgments, I don't want to make any judgments and I haven't made any judgments.

"We had a good relationship and a successful relationship. Brian did a great job here as coach.

"But it was a period when I felt vulnerable and isolated. It's not the easiest position."

Apart from the criticism of Kidd in the book, Fergie also says: "I hoped Brian would not be disloyal to me after what I did for him.

"When I plucked him away from community work in Manchester he was earning about £10,000 a year and when he left United his pay bore no resemblance to that figure.

"He will find out over the next few years whether or not he is suited to management.

"Clearly he took a risk when he abandoned the comfortable niche he had at United to expose himself to the pressures of managing Blackburn, who were even then likely candidates for relegation.

"I suppose, as he neared the age of 50, he decided that if he meant to try going it alone, there could be no further delay.

"I give him credit for responding to the urge before it was too late."

'Managing My Life' is published by Hodder and Stoughton on August 19 (hardback price £18-99).

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