Sir Alex Ferguson: 'TV blocking winter break'

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed "powerful" television companies for the lack of a winter break in the English football schedule.

The veteran Scot feels that a two-week break across all English competitions would give players a rest and reduce the risk of minor injuries later in the season, reports Metro.

"[The winter break] is not just to give the players a rest, it is to get rid of all the little injuries they carry," said Ferguson.

"It would also freshen everyone up mentally, including my staff because they could do with that break as well."

Despite a post-Christmas break being supported by current England boss Fabio Capello and other managers, Ferguson believes that there is little chance it will ever happen.

He accused football's governing bodies of failing to take into account the views of players, coaches and clubs, claiming that this is an indication that "TV has too much power".

Ferguson has had a fractious relationship with broadcasters over the years, including a long-running boycott on speaking with the BBC, a Premier League media partner.

Last March, it emerged that the Scot is to meet with BBC director general Mark Thompson in a bid to end the dispute, which dates back to an unflattering Panorama documentary in 2004 about his son Jason's dealings as a football agent.