Peterborough chairman doesn't hold back after Ashley and Tyler Young controversy in Everton defeat
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Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has jumped to the defence of Darren Ferguson after the Scot refused to bring on Tyler Young against Everton on Thursday night.
Fans had been hoping to see Tyler face his father, Ashley, during the FA Cup showdown at Goodison Park.
Yet Ferguson caused controversy by leaving Tyler on the bench.
He later defended his decision, insisting he had to prioritise the match with Peterborough losing 1-0 until Iliman Ndiaye struck late in stoppage time.
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has jumped to the defence of Darren Ferguson after the Scot refused to bring on Tyler Young against Everton on Thursday night
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And MacAnthony has now backed Ferguson, branding criticism of the 52-year-old 'nonsense' and insisting he did 'the right thing'.
"This nonsense has to stop. My manager was 100 per cent correct in his actions," he said on X.
"This wasn’t some friendly or exhibition event. Tyler is doing fantastic with our u21s and progressing phenomenally with [a] bright future but bringing him on at that time considering circumstances around [the] game with us one down with minutes left was not [the] right thing for [the] team.
"Putting stupid tweets out asking for him to be sacked is unintelligent & frankly moronic.
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"In time even Ashley will appreciate this as opposed to his current feeling around it.”
Ashley was clearly disappointed.
He took to social media himself, admitting he was 'gutted' after being denied his dream of playing against his son.
Some figures, such as Richard Keys, have piled into Ferguson and criticised his decision to deny everybody a fairytale.
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The Peterborough boss has also revealed an Everton player, who he didn't name, 'had a pop' at him following the match.
Yet Ferguson stands by his actions, with the son of Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson saying: "If the game had been 2-0 at that point I would have put him on, but it's 1-0, I've got to get a forward on.
"We're not a charity case, as much as I wanted Tyler to get on with his Dad.
"One of their (Everton's) players had a bit of a pop at me, which is bang out of order.
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This nonsense has to stop. My manger was 100% correct in his actions. This wasn’t some friendly or exhibition event. Tyler is doing fantastic with our 21’s & progressing phenomenally with bright future but bringing him on at that time considering circumstances around game with us…
— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) January 10, 2025
"I've got to do what is best for our team and at that point, 1-0, I'm trying to get a result."
Meanwhile, Everton secured victory against Peterborough just hours after controversially sacking Sean Dyche.
Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman took charge of the team, while reports have suggested David Moyes could be about to seal a Hollywood homecoming to his old side.
Yet Baines kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed on Everton's managerial situation.
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson has been condemned for not bringing Tyler Young on against Everton on Thursday
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"I don't want to get too dragged into discussion about who the right man is," he said.
"All I can do is speak (about) David Moyes because I played for him, and he was a great coach to play for. He's a good man.
"But as far as who's the right man for the job and all that, I don't want to get dragged into all that."
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