Sir Alex Ferguson was within a day of becoming Arsenal manager, according to former Gunners striker Charlie Nicholas. Nicholas, who was part of the Scotland squad during the 1986 World Cup, has revealed that Arsenal had sounded out Ferguson to become their new manager at that time.
Ferguson's contract offer revealed
Nicholas said: “It seemed like everybody was going in a transfer merry go round. There was Fergie, Walter Smith and Graeme Souness.
“Fergie got offered the Arsenal job and on the same day Graeme got offered Rangers and took Walter to be his assistant. The coaches were all looking after themselves and I remember one night we all went to dinner.
“Fergie said to me: ‘I want to take you for a glass of wine. I need to speak to you about something.’ We had a stroll out outside the camp and he said: ”Tell me about Arsenal.’
Nicholas's advice to Ferguson
“So I told him. I said: ‘Great club, it just needs shaking up.’ I said, we've never managed to get with some top players there. We've just never got a team gel. The ingredients are all there, but we are missing a heartbeat.
“And he says they've made the contract. I was like: ‘Oh, I said, no disrespect, but that would be fantastic.’ I think it'd be wonderful news for me. And it'd be wonderful news for the Arsenal.
“I said that that would be magnificent. So, what what's the situation? He says: ‘Well, there is a couple other clubs and interested in, but I spoke to Arsenal and was very, very impressed by them.
“I said they they would let you go on with your job, Alex. They would let you control the dressing room, and that's where we needed control.”
The U-turn to Manchester United
Nicholas continued: “And then the very following day, I think I remember, I think there was twenty four of us in in players' group, and Archie Knox would take eight to dinner. Walter Smith would take another eight to dinner, and Fergie would take this eight to dinner.
“And again, I'm in with Fergie, and he said: ‘I want a quick word.’ He said: ‘ have to tell you, because I know your passion for the Arsenal is there.
“I've just accepted a Manchester United job'. Absolutely gutted. I thought, man, I thought, you know what? I can understand where you're coming from with the Man U thing. I thought we were in a position to get success quicker. But he’d given his word.”
Ferguson was part of Jock Stein's Scotland staff before joining United in 1986. The revelations feature in Nicholas's book, Truly, Madly, Charlie: A Tale of Obsession, Superstition and Charlie Nicholas by Stewart Taylor, which is available now.
