Man U is a huge business, listed on the NY stock exchange, so I suppose it is bound to be newsworthy when the boss is treated like this. I remember being amazed, going to Singapore, about 15 years ago, to see a great big Manchester United shop there and as a brand it has gone from strength to strength, with avid fans all over the world.
I think it is crazy the way football clubs sack managers after a few weeks in post. This does not happen in any other walk of life that I can think of. They are a law unto themselves, including leaking news of someone's dismissal before telling the person being dismissed. Not a good example for other organisations.
Ferguson was obviously a hugely strong character. Someone made the point that in big business it rarely works when the outgoing boss selects his own successor.