Thank you, Gaffer
- Matt Mecham
- Oct 25
- 3 min read
And so it has happened…
It feels like it has been coming for weeks.
But Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has finally pulled the trigger and fired Darren Ferguson.
Darragh sacked Fergie after the 2-1 defeat by Blackpool saying he was ‘devastated’ at having to wield the axe.
In his statement, MacAnthony said:
“The Gaffer is for me the greatest manager in the club's history who I will always consider to be part of my family and the club's family. There are too many wonderful moments to mention here but those many historical celebrated moments I will cherish and remember forever.”
This ends Ferguson’s fourth spell in charge at London Road, the first starting in 2007.
How did we get here?
After several successful seasons at the top of League One chasing promotion, we find ourselves at the bottom of the table after a run of poor performances.
There is little indication that our situation will improve with our hastily put together squad.
The club’s financial model is funded by player sales. At the end of every season, it is expected that we lose a few players in return for stability and re-investment in young talented players.
The cuts have been much deeper over the past few seasons with a complete break up of the team that lost to Oxford in 2024.
Ferguson has struggled to develop the replacements and has abandoned our football style and philosophy to try and find a formula that works.
Sadly, this has not happened this season.
The many highs of the Ferguson era
Darren Ferguson is rightly classed as a London Road legend, having brought so much success including:
Three promotions to the Championship
- 2009 via automatic promotion
- 2011 via playoff at Wembley
- 2021 via automatic promotion
Three EFL Trophy wins at Wembley
- 2014 against Chesterfield
- 2024 against Wycombe Wanderers
- 2025 against Birmingham City
Beyond the promotions and trophies, Ferguson has brought a playing style that runs throughout the club from the academy upwards.
Ferguson has developed talents like Ivan Toney, Dwight Gayle and George Boyd, generating millions for the club.
To Peterborough United, he was much more than a first team manager.
Moving onwards
It has been clear for some time that we had been approaching the end of the latest - and probably the last - Ferguson spell.
New players, new formations and tactics all failed to have an impact, coupled with a lack of development on the training field.
It is time for a new approach with fresh thinking and different perspectives to bring this team together and fight for League One survival.
Darragh said as much in his statement:
“It’s time to go again, freshen up and enter a new period of growth in all aspects on and off the pitch.”
Our thanks
Darren Ferguson deserves our deep gratitude and respect for everything he has achieved with the club.
True club legends are few, but Ferguson is definitely part of that elite group.
Who can forget those glorious days at Wembley and that penalty against Lincoln that got us promoted.
It is with genuine sadness that we accept that Ferguson has left, even if it is the right decision.
Thank you Fergie, for everything you have done.
History will be kind.
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