The Manchester United manager has been a firm advocate of such a move throughout his time at Old Trafford.

Yet his pleas, and those of other senior managers in the game, have constantly fallen on deaf ears.

Although he admits there is no evidence to back up his theory, Ferguson feels the TV companies are one of the major obstacles as it would leave them without football in their schedules at a time when viewing figures tend to increase following the Christmas festivities.

But the decision of the game's authorities to extend this season's domestic programme until the end of May has created an opportunity for future years which Ferguson is eager to take advantage of.

"This season, for the first time, they have extended the season until the end of May," said Ferguson.

"International matches are played during the first two weeks of June anyway so why don't we use that period until the end of May when the weather is better."

Ferguson's fervent belief, backed up by evidence from UEFA's medical department, is that the failure to incorporate a winter break into the English game causes injuries, most of which flare up in March when players who have continued through minor strains suddenly find they are suffering something more serious.

"Managers have always voiced their opinions in favour of a winter break," said Ferguson.

"The trouble is players carry their strains right through January, then when you get to March it turns into an injury of significance.

"A couple of years back we had four or five injuries in March which could be the result of something like that."

Ferguson's idea is simple - use those extra two weeks in May to create a gap from the New Year's Day fixtures until the FA Cup third round, which would be played at the end of January.

He even answers his own concerns about the TV companies.

"You don't want to lose that impact of getting people into the grounds over the Christmas period," he said.

"But we could re-start with an FA Cup tie, which would add a bit of excitement to it after a winter break. That is what they do in Germany.

"If we are looking at TV, why not stagger some games, so this could still put matches on. It would take a bit of working out but it could possibly be implemented."

While it is only a side issue as far as Ferguson is concerned, he points to Germany's success on the international stage and the fact the Bundesliga traditionally shuts down for three weeks.

"Germany always do well in the World Cup," he observed.

"I don't want to be critical of them because I admire what they have achieved in international football.

"Even one of their poorest teams by their standards have got to the later stages of the World Cup.

"There must be some link to that freshness and fitness."