Departing Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has urged management hopefuls to kickoff their careers in the lower leagues.

Ferguson supplied advice to retiring players and insisted they had to earn their chance in the top flight by first working in the lower leagues.

"Prepare to be a manager," he said. "It's no use finishing one day and being a manager the next.

"I'm dead against fast-tracking managers in the game. You're not doing yourselves any favours. Prepare, get your badges, work for years at lower levels and earn the right to be a manager."