WHOEVER follows in the studded boots of Alex Ferguson as manager of Manchester United will inherit a world class team and footballing facility.

Not just the players but a marvellous Old Trafford Stadium from which to play and watch the beautiful game.

Although orbiting in totally different worlds, there is a slight similarity with what Anne Pierson has achieved at the Brewery Arts Centre.

Both rely on putting bums on seats and, during her reign, Anne has shaped the Brewery into a outstanding visual and performing arts centre for the community - the elusive piece of silverware slotting into place last year with the twin screen cinema.

But not without a few dramatic heart-stopping moments in time added on.

That's where comparisions end.

Where as soccer club chairmen - profit-driven in business - abandon commercial constraints and hurl millions at football, arts organisations muddle through, from grant to grant, year on year.

Ms Pierson's retirement is ear-marked for 2001, but her legacy, just like Sir Alec's, is a bigger, better, successful and, to many, one-of-a-kind, organisation, recognised as one of the finest in the land with in excess of 250,000 punters going through the Brewery turnstiles last year.

Over coffee Anne tells me 2000 was a spectacular year for the Brewery: "Close to 3,000 musicians, actors, dancers, writers and artists appeared here, from local bands, youth theatres and amateur photographers to some of the world's best performers in every field, including Edward Fox, Pat Metheney and John McLaughlin.

"As always the most satisfying moments are concerned with giving opportunities for local audiences to see high quality work on their doorsteps and the chance for young people in particular to develop their talents.

"The success of former members of my youth theatre has meant a great deal to me this year.

It was a strange experience watching giant-sized images of Martin Savage starring in Mike Leigh's film Topsy Turvy projected on to the theatre's cinema screen which concealed the stage on which he had performed many years ago.

"And I had a lump in my throat on Christmas Day at the moment when Angie Lonsdale (who also worked in our box office) married Curly Watts in Coronation Street.

"The highlight of the year was, of course, the launch of Kendal's only cinemas which have been visited by 40,000 people since May.

This is the last piece of my personal Brewery jigsaw as I shall be moving on next autumn."

However, another Brewery departure is on the immediate horizon.

Adds Anne: "Before then Lene Bragger, who has made such an outstanding contribution to the visual arts scene, will be returning to live in her native Denmark.

"Five years ago her response to struggling artists looking for studio space was to bang on every door in Highgate until she found some.

From her initiative, Green Door Studios was born."