The six-part docuseries explores the real life story of notorious serial killer known as the ‘Killer Clown’ and is streaming free now.

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A “harrowing” true crime documentary examining disturbing offences has viewers finding it difficult to continue watching – and it’s available to stream without charge.

ITVX has discreetly released a six-part documentary series on its platform, investigating the genuine account behind “Devil in Disguise”.

John Wayne Gacy: The True Story features “distressing scenes” as it examines the life of infamous American serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

Known as the Killer Clown, Gacy murdered young men and boys during the 1970s. Operating undetected between 1972 and 1978, he preyed upon young men, sexually assaulting numerous victims before killing them and concealing their bodies in a mass burial site beneath his residence.

Currently available on ITVX, John Wayne Gacy The True Story chronicles his offences following the vanishing of a teenager, which prompted investigators to visit his property, reports the Mirror.

ITV describes it: “This chilling documentary reveals the true story behind ‘Devil in Disguise,’ exposing the shocking police failures that surrounded the crimes of John Wayne Gacy.”

The opening episode takes audiences back to 1992 when Gacy participated in an uncommon on-camera interview. Featuring real-life testimonies, the unsettling programme will appeal to true crime enthusiasts.

One viewer on TikTok described it as essential viewing, writing: “I nearly missed this one.”

In the video, the true crime enthusiast explained: “To be honest with you I’ve scrolled past this about 4 times because I thought thought it looks the same as the Devil in Disguise series and I’ve only just realised it’s actually a documentary.”

One viewer remarked: “Been on a whilst but it’s very bad crime wise. I found it hard to finish tbh.”

Another commented: “Watched it absolutely fantastic. Harrowing what happened.”

A third person said: “Absolutely brilliant series.”

The programme was described as “harrowing” with one Facebook user writing: “I watched both the documentary and drama versions both really interesting, still so many unanswered questions especially in the documentary.”

Another viewer said: “Definitely worth watching!” A third responded: “Oh I’ve binged watched this on itvx.”

The documentary series accompanies the crime drama ‘Devil in Disguise’, which also premiered on ITV and ITVX earlier this year. Though initially broadcast in the US, the programme is a dramatisation rooted in actual events.

The series was described as follows: “Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy peels back the twisted layers of Gacy’s life whilst weaving in heartrending stories of his victims; exploring the grief, guilt, and trauma of their families and friends; and exposing the systemic failures, missed opportunities, and societal prejudices that fuelled his reign of terror.”

John Wayne Gacy: The True Story and Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy are both available to stream on ITVX.

Gregor Townsend has made four changes, with George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Gregor Brown and Jamie Ritchie coming into the starting XV. McBeth makes his first Six Nations start. Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe are still omitted from the squad.

Scotland starting XV: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Williamson, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Darcy Graham.

Steve Borthwick has made two changes to his starting side from last week. Luke Cowan-Dickie and Maro Itoje come in for Jamie George and Alex Coles. Fin Smith replaces Marcus Smith in the 23 shirt.

England starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward; 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 1Tommy Freeman, 2 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell; 10 George Ford 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Fin Smith.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has admitted his new-look Newcastle team is still searching for its identity as he targets FA Cup glory.

Newcastle head for Aston Villa in the fourth round on Saturday still dealing with the on-field fall-out of Alexander Isak’s £130m departure for Liverpool and the arrivals of Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa which surrounded it.

Howe said: “The words ‘patience’ and ‘understanding’, they’re rarely accepted, I think, in football management when you’re talking about your team. People want clarity on where you are, they want to know whether you’re good or bad. In the middle isn’t accepted.

“Don’t get me wrong, we could have done better and there are certainly things that we could improve, but I think longer term we’ll be better for it if we can work through this season and this period.

“The biggest thing is to find a clear identity and a clear way of playing, and then we can see what the future looks like with this team. If it’s positive then that could be a great thing.”

Tuesday night’s 2-1 Premier League win at Tottenham eased some of the pressure on Howe and his players after a disappointing run of results, although the departure of Spurs boss Thomas Frank the following day and Sean Dyche’s exit from Nottingham Forest 24 hours later highlighted the precarious nature of management.

Losing to the team 13th in English football’s third tier represents a new low in Burnley‘s season just as renewed optimism was starting to creep in.

Burnley‘s remarkable 3-2 come-from-behind win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday was their first victory in 16 Premier League games. The gloom started to lift slightly.

Parker’s side showed real fight and spirit at Selhurst Park, which made his decision to make nine changes to his team for the visit of Mansfield all the more baffling.

“When you don’t go through to the next round there will always be questions asked about that [team selection] but I don’t think that was the main factor today,” Parker told BBC Sport.

“We lacked a little something in those final moments. That was where we have fallen way short today.”

Burnley are not the first, nor will they be the last, Premier League side to ring the changes for a cup game against lower opposition.

But having been dumped out of the League Cup by Cardiff City back in September, the FA Cup was the supporters’ only chance to distract themselves from looming relegation.

“It is embarrassing, the changes he made. Play your strongest team. He made nine changes, and the second half was embarrassing,” former Burnley defender David Unsworth said on BBC Radio East Lancashire.

“It is an embarrassing afternoon for Burnley. It gives the owner a decision to make now. He has to listen to the fans, they are not happy.

“For the first time I have witnessed all home ends of the stadium booing and disgruntlement. The owner has a decision to make.”

Chairman Alan Pace, the leader of the club’s owners ALK Capital, isn’t the most popular at Turf Moor either at the moment.

This week he angered fans when, during an interview with BBC Football Focus, he dismissed fan concerns as coming from those who “just play this game on a computer somewhere”.

He went on to liken those same fans to three-year-old toddlers having a tantrum.

Pace used Saturday’s programme notes to clarify his words, writing: “I did not intend for my words to upset, but I did mean what I was trying to say which was that, just because some are upset, does not mean that things are dire and without hope.”

Many Burnley fans will be hoping Pace calls time on Parker’s spell in charge, though the former Premier League midfielder said he is confident is his own position at the club.

“I am very comfortable in my position at this present moment in time. We have lost a game of football today against a team we should be beating,” Parker told BBC Sport.

“We had numerous chances. Of course you are always going to judge a result and today is a bad one, we take the flak for that, the team and myself.”

The Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment as it’s known in Scotland, provides up to £300 to help older people cover heating bills. While most eligible pensioners receive the payment automatically, some must submit a claim before the cut-off date of March 31, 2026.

With the deadline looming, pensioners and their families are being urged to check eligibility, confirm payment details, and ensure no support is left unclaimed.

How to claim a missing Winter Fuel Payment

You can claim Winter Fuel Payment by post – just fil in a Winter Fuel Payment claim form and send it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LR

Or you can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre to claim by phone.
Telephone: 0800 731 0160

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Before you call, you will need to know:

• your National Insurance number
• your bank or building society details
• the date you were married or entered into a civil partnership (if appropriate)

For pensioners with a taxable income of more than £35,000, the Government said the payment will be taken back through the tax system during in the 2026/27 financial year.

What other help is available for pensioners this winter?

Amid rising living costs, it’s worth accessing every form of support available.

There’s a full guide to the help available here.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount has been expanded this winter, meaning 6 million households will receive £150 off their energy bills this winter.

Around 2.7 million extra households should have received £150 off their energy bills, bringing up the number to 6 million in total – including 900,000 families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty.

Who is eligible for the Warm Home Discount?

Those on means-tested DWP benefits, including:

• Housing Benefit 
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) 
• Income Support 
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit) 
• Universal Credit

For the vast majority of recipients, £150 will be automatically deducted from their energy bill.

DWP Cold Weather Payment

This £25 a week grant aims to help people with their heating bills when temperatures drop to zero. It is paid out by the Department for Work and Pensions to eligible households whenever the average temperature in the area drops to freezing or below for seven consecutive days.

It’s organised by postcodes, and payments are triggered if zero temperatures are either forecast or recorded between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

It only runs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there’s a one-off Winter Heating Payment of nearly £60.

£150 off energy bills in 2026

In the autumn budget, Rachel Reeves announced all households would get £150 off their energy bills in 2026. Confusingly, this is separate from the Warm Home Discount, and eligible bill-payers will get both.

Occupational discounts

Dave Crawley, Finance Director at Discounts for Teachers and Health Service Discounts, said many former public sector workers are unaware they remain entitled to substantial savings even after retirement.

“Amid ongoing conversations about the rising cost of living and the support available to pensioners through DWP benefits, it’s important to highlight the additional help that retired NHS and education professionals can access,” he says.

“Many people don’t realise that even after leaving the workforce, they remain eligible for thousands of exclusive discounts through Health Service Discounts and Discounts for Teachers.

Our platforms are completely free to use and offer real, meaningful savings on everyday essentials, travel, leisure, and more, helping former healthcare and education staff stretch their pensions further at a time when every pound matters.”

Friends have shared how ‘everything changed’ in an instant for the Prince and Princess of Wales

Prince William’s heartbreak and battle behind closed doors over his wife’s cancer diagnosis has been uncovered for the first time, with friends sharing how “everything changed” in an instant for the couple.

Kate, the Princess of Wales, is now in remission after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024. The diagnosis came after she was admitted to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery. After the operation, she spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and was recuperating at home when she received the diagnosis of cancer and began chemotherapy.

After stepping away from royal duties to undergo treatment and recuperate, Kate has more recently been carrying out more regular engagements after slowly easing back into her public royal duties over the past year and a half.

It’s now been revealed how both William and Kate tackled the unexpected card they had been dealt, which came as an added blow following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.

In a new book, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, which is being serialised by the Mirror, the publication’s Royal Editor Russell Myers writes: “While the start of the year usually represents a gentle beginning to the royal calendar, 2024 was about to change all that.

“William was left in an extraordinary position. Suddenly, with three children to care for at home and no live-in staff at their Adelaide Cottage home, and with his wife and father in hospital, his future was looking decidedly different. When the Princess of Wales entered hospital on 16 January, and was then ghosted out two weeks later to disappear completely from public view for potentially months on end, it created an incredible vacuum of information.

“When Catherine went in, he was fairly resolute,’ said a close aide. ‘They both very calmly told the children what was going on and how long Catherine would need to be away for, but explained other than that everything would continue as normal and when she came home, she would need to rest up for a bit.’”

Russell continues: “Catherine was able to keep in touch with her family through video calls from her bedside, catching up on what George, Charlotte and Louis had been doing at school and asking if ‘Papa’ had been able to cook for them while she had been away.

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“At that time it seemed to all be perfectly in hand, they were the calmness in the storm certainly. But away from the children he was of course incredibly pensive. His father’s illness brought into focus just how quickly his life, and that of his family as well as the whole landscape of the institution, could change very quickly.”

The book continues to detail the moment Kate, with William by her side, was given the news, and her decision to share her diagnosis publicly. “Two weeks before that moment on a warm spring afternoon in March when she had sat down to pose for a photograph with her family, Catherine had been contacted by her medical team at the London Clinic,” Russell writes.

“With William by her side, the Princess of Wales, who had previously been in for a major, yet routine abdominal operation, was told that secondary tests had shown cancer was present. The advice was an immediate course of preventative chemotherapy in order to give her the best chance of a full recovery.

“Friends of Catherine say that although she was caught completely in shock, she remained composed. Her first thoughts were of her children and her husband. William, according to friends, later told how he was in ‘a state of disbelief’. First his father had been diagnosed with cancer, and a month later his wife was now facing a similar challenge. Catherine called her parents and her siblings to tell them, then she and William resolved to gather the children and impart what they knew in the best and most positive way possible.”

Russell says that Catherine had already decided to release a personal statement after seeing the “positivity and warmth that had greeted the King when he had been so open about his own diagnosis”.

He continues: “More than that, though, the princess believed that her experience could benefit others in similar distressing circumstances. Catherine’s family rallied round, with her sister Pippa helping to write the script for the short video statement.

“Dressed in a simple striped jumper and jeans, sitting on a wooden bench and surrounded by a serene spring backdrop of daffodils – a world away from the disgraceful chaos peddled by faceless social media trolls – Catherine calmly described how the diagnosis had come as a ‘huge shock’ on top of an’incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family’.

“The message, recorded in complete secrecy by a BBC special events team, was broadcast on the 6pm national news and online. Much like the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II, it felt like an earthquake whose reverberations were felt around the world. ‘The days beforehand were filled with shock, but at that moment, it was genuinely as if the world stood still’, said a senior courtier.

“‘Everyone knew it was a huge moment. It was incredibly emotional. But to know both she and William had had to prepare themselves to tell their three young children that Mummy was ill and would have to go back to hospital, but that she would be OK, was just extraordinary’.”

A close friend also spoke of the prince’s reaction. “It was like being hit by a bus, sudden, brutal, and completely disorienting. One moment life was normal, and the next, everything changed. He worships her, truly. She’s his world, and when the diagnosis came, it was as if the ground beneath him vanished.

“He talked about the rug being pulled, but it was more than that, it was heartbreak, fear and helplessness all at once. Watching him go through it was deeply emotional. You could see it in his eyes; in the way he held himself. But through it all, his devotion to her never wavered. He’s been by her side every step, and the depth of his devotion is something that stays with you. It’s love in its rawest, most powerful form.”

Discussing how William tackled his wife’s ill health, Russell writes: “The Prince of Wales took charge of the school drop-offs, while Catherine’s parents and siblings were regular visitors to the family home in Windsor. Quiet evening dinners were enjoyed at home, playdates were organised to keep the children entertained and there were weekends away at the Middletons’ family home in Berkshire – all part of enveloping George, Charlotte and Louis with as much love and support as possible. While the children benefited from having their mum at home all the time, the road of treatment and recovery was not simple.

“Once the initial shock of her diagnosis had passed, the schedule of regular hospital appointments and the time needed to recuperate and regain enough strength to start each week, both physically and mentally, took its toll. ‘Throughout everything thrown at her, she was incredibly upbeat’, a friend said.”

William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, published on 26 February by Ebury, Penguin Random House, is available to pre-order now

The man ‘collided with a stationary police van’ after coming off his pedal cycle

A man has died in Liverpool after coming off his bike during an attempted police stop yesterday (February 13). Merseyside Police confirmed today (February 14) the rider died following the incident at around 3.15pm on Back Falkner Street South in Liverpool‘s Georgian Quarter.

A spokesperson for the force said he was rushed to hospital after the attempted police stop.

On Saturday lunchtime, a large-scale police presence remained on the road where the crash took place. A police cordon was still in place at the scene of the incident, alongside a forensics tent and a number of police and forensics officers at work.

Earlier on Saturday police issued a statement urging the public not to speculate, and stating the man, who was 23, had been taken to hospital. A later statement, released at 1.49pm, confirmed he had died, the ECHO reports.

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In that later statement, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that a man involved in an incident on Back Falkner Street South in Liverpool yesterday, Friday 13 February, has sadly died.

“At 3.15pm it was reported that a 23-year-old man had come off his electrically assisted pedal cycle on Back Falkner Street South in Liverpool following an attempt by officers, who were taking part in a proactive police operation, to stop him and carry out enquiries.”

This statement, and the one issued earlier on Saturday, then added: “The man came off his bike after making contact with a police van, which was stationary at the time of the collision.”

However, in a 3.15pm update on Saturday, police issued a clarification to this “in conjunction with the IOPC”, which said: “After coming off his pedal cycle the man collided with a police van, which was stationary at the time.”

The statement added: “First aid and CPR was administered by officers at the scene. An ambulance was called and arrived at 3.23pm and the man was taken to hospital where he died a short time later. A post-mortem will be carried out to confirm the cause of death. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.

“We would continue to urge people not to speculate and avoid sharing rumours or misinformation. We are co-operating fully with an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).”

On Friday Arriva North West advised customers that bus services were diverted as a result of the police incident.

The company posted on X: “Due to a police incident, services 201 and 699 have been diverted via Crown Street and Oxford Street in both directions. Please allow extra time for your journey.”

New research from Halfords shows three per cent of motorists have skipped their MOT in the past year, equating to around 1.2 million vehicles.

The figures show an increasing trend among younger drivers, with six per cent of Gen Z admitting to missing their MOT, double the national average.

This rises to eight per cent of Gen Z drivers who confessed to having ever skipped an MOT, in comparison to three per cent of Gen X and two per cent of baby boomers.

The research also found men are more than twice as likely to skip MOTs than women.

What can fail an MOT test?

Why do drivers skip their MOT? 

There are a variety of reasons motorists claim for skipping an MOT. Over a third who did (36%) say they simply forgot it was due. 

Meanwhile over a quarter (27%) purposefully skipped it due to the cost of the MOT itself. A further quarter (25%) chose to skip because of struggles with motoring costs in general. 

The wider cost of living appears to be a factor – 61% of the British population reported they’ve experienced an increase in the cost of living meaning the situation may be getting worse. 

This could also contribute to the situation deteriorating – more than four in ten (42%) motorists currently say they are concerned about affording their next MOT. 

Of them, 69% report they are worried about unexpected repairs costs that might arise during an MOT and 50% are concerned about being able to afford it in light of the rising cost of living.

MOT’s are an annual legal requirement to ensure vehicles meet safety and environmental standards. Those without an MOT are potentially dangerous, putting both the driver, their passengers, and other road users in danger. Not having an MOT can also carry fines of up to £1,000, six points in a license and invalidate insurance. 

Halfords Motoring Expert Andy Turbefield says: “Many people are feeling the squeeze financially, but skipping your MOT is a false economy.

“It can actually lead to greater financial burden if you get fined and if you were to crash your vehicle and a lack of an MOT invalidates your insurance, you could be out of pocket for far more. 

“MOT failures are often a result of low-cost issues such as a blown bulb or even low screenwash.”

How you can avoid MOT fines

Find out when your MOT is due

As soon as your car hits three years-old, it will need an MOT before its birthday each year.

You can easily check when your MOT is due using your number plate on GOV.UK.

You can undertake your MOT test up to a month (minus a day) before its expiry date while still preserving its annual due date.

Set up a reminder

Simply set a reminder on your email calendar – or in Great Britain, you can sign up online to get a free text or email reminder one month before your vehicle’s MOT is due.

In Northern Ireland you’ll get a letter in the post seven weeks before your MOT is due.

Create a car contingency account

Cars are expensive – there’s no denying that – and MOTs can throw up unexpected repair costs in order to pass.

It’s a good idea to set up a car contingency savings account; putting aside a little each month to spread the costs and make sure you can afford any unexpected nasty surprises.

Shop around for your MOT

Just as you should shop around for a cheaper premium on your car insurance, you can also compare prices for your MOT.

The maximum price of an MOT is £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.

But many garages will offer it cheaper than this – especially if bought in conjunction with your regular servicing.

Busy Bees has announced 10 new apprenticeship roles across its nurseries in Sunderland, part of a wider push to bring 500 new apprentices into the organisation nationwide.

The roles will be based at Busy Bees centres in Sunderland Doxford, Ashbrooke, Cleadon, Fulwell, and Ryhope Village.

Emma Langford, European People Director at Busy Bees, said: “Our apprenticeship programme reflects the culture we’re so proud of at Busy Bees – one that is rooted in investing in our people and nurturing future talent.

“We welcome ambitious individuals who want to build a career in early years while making a meaningful difference to children’s lives.

“Our apprentices play a vital role in shaping children’s formative years, and we’re incredibly proud of their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to supporting children’s learning and development.”

Apprentices will work towards Level 2, 3, or 5 qualifications in childcare and education, gaining hands-on experience in the nursery environment.

Successful candidates will be offered a permanent role following completion of the programme and will benefit from employee perks including enhanced family leave, discounted childcare, and pay rates above the National Minimum Wage.

Apprentices will also contribute to delivering Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, which has been designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Emily Mellors, who recently achieved her Level 2 in Childcare and joined Busy Bees as an apprentice in September 2024, said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship at Busy Bees as I’ve always had a passion for working with children since I was a little girl.

“I love watching the children grow in confidence and come into a happy setting.

“I recommend doing an early years apprenticeship because it gives you hands-on experience from the very start, helping you build real skills while you learn.

“It also helps you grow in confidence, communication, and responsibility early on, while earning and gaining a qualification at the same time.

“An apprenticeship can open doors to long-term career opportunities and gives you a strong foundation for working in early years or progressing into further education later on.

“I’m excited to keep on developing my skills with Busy Bees and giving children the best start in life.”

The company currently has more than 1,100 apprentices in training across more than 357 nurseries and has been named among the top five employers in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.

For more details, visit www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/working-at-busy-bees.

Sir Alex Ferguson is hailed as the most successful manager to ever grace the Premier League, with a legacy at Manchester United that will likely never be beaten

Sir Alex Ferguson sealed his legendary status as Manchester United manager with one last Premier League victory in the 2012/13 campaign. During his near three-decade reign at Old Trafford, the Scottish boss secured an extraordinary trophy haul.

Following his announcement to leave the club in May 2013, Ferguson guided United to another Premier League crown and secured Champions League qualification. The Red Devils finished 11 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City and suffered just five defeats across the entire campaign.

During his final interview with Sky Sports, the manager fielded questions on a range of topics. However, two points in particular caught my attention regarding today’s football landscape.

At the time, the reporter asked why Wayne Rooney wasn’t included in either the starting XI or on the substitutes’ bench. Ferguson responded with remarkable honesty, admitting that the United legend had asked to leave – and even explained the reasoning behind Rooney’s choice.

READ MORE: Man Utd ready to rival Arsenal for blockbuster Sandro Tonali transfer this summerREAD MORE: Bryan Mbeumo makes telling comment about Man Utd under ex-boss Ruben Amorim

Ferguson said: “I don’t think Wayne was keen to play simply because he’s asked for the transfer.

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“I think he wants to think it through in his mind, I think that’s a good idea. We’re not going to let him go and I think he’s maybe just a little bit frustrated [after] being taken off once or twice in the last few weeks.”

Such stark honesty would be unthinkable in today’s Premier League, where managers typically shield their players by keeping transfer matters tightly under wraps. Yet it appears Ferguson’s influence at Old Trafford endured long after his 2013 departure, as Rooney remained at Manchester United until 2017 – a full four years later.

Sir Alex also made another startling allegation about the club “leaking” sensitive information. This concerned his planned retirement being made public before any official statement.

When questioned about the months-long delay in announcing his exit – despite making the decision over Christmas – Ferguson explained he’d hoped to maintain secrecy for as long as possible. However, after informing relatives and his playing squad on the Tuesday, whispers started spreading.

The United legend said: “Unfortunately there were rumours going around on Tuesday [but] wherever it comes from, you never know. Our club’s a sieve, stuff leaks out and it shouldn’t leak out but we then started to speed it up a bit.”

This pattern has persisted throughout United’s history, with an internal investigation opened just weeks ago in January 2026 to identify those responsible for current breaches. The investigation was triggered after the starting line-up was ‘leaked’ to journalists hours before the club’s 2-0 derby victory against City.

Ferguson’s reputation at United remains virtually untouchable, considering his extraordinary achievements during his tenure. However, in his farewell address as manager of one of England’s most decorated sides, he didn’t hold back from delivering some stark realities.

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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

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