Alex Ferguson probably knew the score when he decided to put out a new autobiography. Coming mere months after his retirement, he probably had an inkling that it would be a bona fide headline generator.

It has certainly not disappointed with pot-shots taken at the likes of Roy Keane, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney among others. 

John Giles was on his regular slot on Thursday Night Football on Off The Ball and he was highly critical of Fergie's decision to release a book at this delicate time for Manchester United.

"He's a very influential person in football and he's been one of the greatest managers of all time. You have to look at it and say: what are the pluses and minuses from doing the book. There are certainly no pluses in it and I think in such a delicate situation with a new manager coming in, to do a book and bring up old tales can't have any pluses for Man United. Remember he's still a director at the club."

Giles feels the controversy generated by the book will not have a positive impact on the Reds. He believes Ferguson should have "disappeared" for at least a year and then maybe publish a book.

"You wonder does he want to be centre stage and if it's a money thing. Some people do books to settle old scores and the money aspect would be important. But in Alex Ferguson's case, he's earned really big money for quite a few years. So you can't see the sense of him doing a book for that reason. He's an old-school manager and none of the managers like Stein, Shankly, Nicholson and Ramsey put out books to settle old scores. Whatever happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room. It can't be good for Moyes that he's criticising Rooney."