Michael Crick says that Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson is not a crook, but he is a liar and a bullyIf he'd dithered for another day or two last winter, then Sir Alex would now be relaxing somewhere off the Azores or Madagascar, starting his retirement with the world cruise he's always promised Cathy, his long-suffering wife. Last February, Manchester United were within hours of signing a contract with the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson to succeed Ferguson, who planned to retire in May. The plan was that Eriksson should take over at Old Trafford after this summer's World Cup. Then, suddenly, as lawyers perfected Eriksson's contract, Fergie changed his mind. He couldn't give up the football drug, and asked to stay another three years.