Aberdeen youth chief Willie Miller admits he had to fight off Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to sign 16 year-old Craig Storie.

Miller still refers to Ferguson as "gaffer" after winning titles under the former Dons manager.

He told the Scottish Sun: "Manchester United were really interested in signing Craig Storie and we had a long series of meetings and conversations to convince him and his parents that Aberdeen was the right place for him.

"Sir Alex gave the boy the red-carpet treatment, had him down to Manchester, spoke to him.

"I didn't speak to the gaffer. I don't think it would be right to do that and I wouldn't call on him for a favour at that level.

"If I wasn't capable of convincing Craig to come to Aberdeen then I'd just take it on the chin. Craig's an exciting talent and there are high hopes for him.

"I could understand what was going through the boy's mind when Manchester United were making such an effort to sign him. It's a huge club, a huge opportunity.

"But we convinced him, we convinced his dad."