Sir Alex Ferguson 'upset' at how Man United sacked David Moyes

• Sir Alex Ferguson was speaking at a charity lunch in Manchester
• He was responsible for luring David Moyes to Old Trafford
• The club may pay for their handling of the situation when it comes to Moyes' exit terms
• Moyes believes United delayed sacking him to save millions of pounds in compensation

By Matt Lawton for the Daily Mail and Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail and Charles Sale for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:30 EDT, 24 April 2014 | Updated: 03:50 EDT, 25 April 2014

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his anguish at the way David Moyes’s sacking was handled by Manchester United.

Speaking to an audience of 300 at a charity lunch in Manchester, Ferguson said he found it ‘upsetting the way it came out’.

Moyes learned of his imminent sacking when the story broke on Monday afternoon — 16 hours before he was officially informed by the club.

VIDEO Scroll down for End of an Era at United? Fans have their say about Moyes

Upset: Sir Alex Ferguson is unhappy with how Manchester United dealt with the sacking of David Moyes

Sacked: David Moyes has now agreed a pay-off deal with Manchester United after being sacked on Tuesday

Ferguson clearly finds that regrettable when he was responsible for luring his fellow Scot to Old Trafford from Everton, where he had enjoyed 11 successful years prior to 10 torturous months at United.

United’s handling of the situation might cost them dearly when it comes to negotiating Moyes’s exit terms. The League Managers Association, who are assisting Moyes, have already blasted the club for behaving in an ‘unprofessional manner’.

Their chief executive Richard Bevan said: ‘The LMA is very disappointed with the nature of David’s departure.’ 

Old guard: Giggs (left) has taken over until the end of the season and is being assisted by Paul Scholes

That view was endorsed on Thursday by West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, an LMA committee member, who called the process ‘flawed’ and ‘a great shame for David and for United’s brand’.

It is highly significant that the LMA will not comment further until Moyes’s compensation deal has been finalised.

It is understood the 50-year-old believes United delayed sacking him to save millions of pounds in compensation.

The axe fell two days after defeat at Everton, which meant United could no longer finish in the Champions League places.

Moyes has told friends he believes this was motivated by a clause in his contract stipulating that failure to finish in the top four would limit his pay-off to £4.5million — a year’s money.  

Final straw: United's defeat to Everton last Sunday proved to be Moyes' last game in charge of the club

Moyes is convinced United decided to sack him weeks ago — something that has been corroborated by club sources this week. But had he been dismissed when there was still a chance of finishing in the top four, his pay-off could have been at least £9m.

United maintain they did everything by the book and have adhered to stock-market regulations.

A club spokesman said: ‘We do not accept that it was handled in an unprofessional manner. The decision was not taken until late Monday night and was communicated face-to-face first thing on Tuesday morning.’

It is understood Moyes is bitter towards executive chairman Ed Woodward. He wanted daily contact with the club’s senior executive but sources say communication ‘sometimes wasn’t even weekly’.

Bitter: Moyes did not have the contact with Ed Woodward (left) that he wanted during his reign