YOUR article on the life of Michael Phelan (LET, November 10) summed him up perfectly.

I was there at Saltergate on a freezing day in January, 1981, when a young Phelan made his debut for the Clarets as substitute in a 3-0 defeat.

So good was his contribution that he made his full debut against Exeter the following week in the old Third Division.

Even after only a handful of games he seemed to take everything in his stride and he seemed very confident in everything he did. Even then, I sensed he had something special which would take him to the top.

But when he joined Manchester United, I felt he had achieved his goal. Getting an England Cap and winning the FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup must have been the icing on the cake. But as he got to the end of his playing career, the experience had gained stood him in good stead and, before long, he was made assistant manager to Gary Megson at Blackpool.

Stockport County was the next stop, but, in the end, it wasn't a surprise when he joined Manchester United's back-room staff as reserve team coach.

But now he is the first team coach, what is to stop him from succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson when he retires next year?

All those years ago, I sensed Mike Phelan had what it takes to get to the top. If he does become manager of Manchester United, he will have earned it because of the very high standards that he set himself all those years ago when he was a youngster at Burnley.

One thing for certain, despite all his success, he's still a Claret!!

M HIBBERT, Ivan Street, Burnley.