David Beckham laughs off idea of hiring Sir Alex Ferguson for MLS role

LONDON. October 31. KAZINFORM David Beckham expanded on his plans to buy a MLS franchise at a book signing on Wednesday but he gave a sarcastic response to suggestions that he might hire Sir Alex Ferguson as his first manager.

Ferguson had criticised him in his recent autobiography, suggesting fame had clouded his ambitions as a footballer, and Beckham said that until then the Scot had been his first choice as manager.

"It's funny, he was one of the first names I was going to call up to be manager. I'm not so sure now," he said.

However, he did temper that remark by saying: "All joking aside I wouldn't want to be negative about Sir Alex. He gave me the chance to live my dream."

Beckham has an agreement to become a franchise owner after a clause was written into his playing contract when he first signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 and he is set to take up a discounted $25m (£15.5m) agreement to launch a team based in Florida. "

It is something that I was very interested in when I signed a contract with the LA Galaxy six or seven years ago," Beckham said. "My manager got a clause in my contract at the time to enable me to have a franchise at the end of my playing career and now I have obviously stopped playing, Kazinform has learnt from the Guardian.

"A year ago I had a look around. Miami was one of the places, but we have looked at others too.

"It is exciting. I am passionate about staying in football. Being an owner of a team is something that I'm passionate about."

Should a deal be pushed through it is understood Beckham will sell on the club to potential investors for almost triple the price he paid in an attempt to obtain the start-up costs needed to run a franchise.