Ferguson to be honoured at TV awards

Sir Alex Ferguson will be honoured with a special Diamond award to mark the 60th anniversary of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show in Leeds tonight.

Ferguson received the Lifetime Achievement award on the show in 2001 but the BBC is keen to mark a year which saw him bring an end to his 26-year reign in charge of Manchester United.

BBC Sport director Barbara Slater said: "Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements are unique. We want to honour and recognise this by celebrating his final incredible year as a manager with this special award.

"Sir Alex won the Lifetime Achievement award in 2001 after claiming some of the most sought-after trophies in the football world.

"The fact that his success continued for a further decade and more afterwards makes his achievements all the more remarkable.

"He is someone who has earned the respect of so many both in and outside of football, regardless of their football allegiances."

Ferguson refused to talk to the BBC from 2004, when he objected to a documentary produced by the corporation that made claims about his football agent son Jason, until August 2011.

A cordial relationship was restored following talks that involved Ferguson and the then BBC director general Mark Thompson.