Manchester United Managers

A.Scott Duncan (1932 - 1937)

Former Dumbarton, Glasgow Rangers and Newcastle United player Scott Duncan was offered the post of United manager in August 1932, at a salary reported to be £800 per annum, and after Sir Matt Busby and Robson he is United's longest-serving manager, spending five years at the club. In his first two seasons he spent a great deal of money, buying several players from his native Scotland, and he came under fire from newspapers and supporters for failing to produce good results, depite his financial outlay. Duncan had played once for Unted during World War One. His signings as manager included Scottish internationals Neil Dewar from Third Lanark and Chalmers from Cowdenbeath, together with Shamrock Rovers' Irish international, Byrne, and Welsh international Bamford from Wrexham. He saw United narrowly escape relegation in 1933 - 4, but two years late steered them to the Second Division Championship. The success was followed by the offer of a five-year contract for the manager, but United were not equipped for life in Division One and a year later they were down again. After the first 14 games of 1938 - 9, Duncan resigned and became manager of Ipswich Twon who were then in the Southern League. He took them into the Football Legue whilst United's first game after his departure - a 7-1 win at Chesterfield - began a run which secured them promotion once more, despite having no 'proper' manager for the rest of the season. Apart from the Second Division Championship, Duncan, who also managed Hamilton and Cowdenbeath, made little impact at Old Trafford.