Everton manager David Moyes tried to put a damper on rumors that Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of next season and he will replace his fellow Scotsman.

"It was Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane being mentioned not long ago," said Moyes. "When my players are linked with clubs it annoys me. So I don't want to go into any of it. But as far as I'm concerned this is a load of nonsense."

Moyes expressed his respect for Ferguson. "Even when he's fighting them, he still has the humility to have a drink with them at the end of the game. And he still has the dignity to phone them if they are sacked or out of work. There's a lot of that from his Glasgow roots."