Bryan Redpath returned to Sale to take the club's reins during the off-season © Getty Images

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News: Diamond: Give the North to Sale

Players/Officials: Ian McGeechan | Bryan Redpath

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Sale Sharks

External Links: Sir Alex Ferguson Profile on ESPNFC.com

Sale Sharks director of rugby Bryan Redpath has revealed that legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and British & Irish Lions stalwart Sir Ian McGeechan have helped guide his career.

Redpath, who took the coaching reins at Sale during the off-season, has benefited from the knowledge of two giants of British sport for the past few seasons and is set to continue to use both as mentors as he attempts to return the Sharks to the Aviva Premiership heights.

"I've got some people that I use as mentors in Sir Alex and Sir Ian," the former Scotland scrum-half told the Manchester Evening News before stressing that their words were hugely influential at Gloucester, where he began his coaching career, and now at Sale.

"Their values and ethics are second to none. I speak to both of them on a fairly regular basis and have had conversations with both of them about my decisions along the way during my career.

"I know Sir Alex's son Jason which is how I got to know Sir Alex. I know it's hard with Sir Alex, as he deals with footballers who are exceptionally well-paid, but the fundamentals of playing sport are still the same.

"I know he operates on that front and the key thing for me is that I have people there who are not in my environment but who can watch and see me on TV or whatever and can watch and see how I deal with that stressful game time and after-match feature. They are so good in identifying all of the elements that I need to be clear and dominant on.

"I'll maybe ask them about a player and their opinions on him. And with their wealth of experience, with one being 70 and the other 60, they are invaluable. In whatever sport you are in I think you have to listen and learn and there are no better people to take advice from than Sir Alex and Sir Ian."