Former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest striker Peter Davenport has revealed Brian Clough could have beaten Sir Alex Ferguson to the Red Devils job.

"Martin (Edwards) was always intrigued at the possibility of getting Brian Clough," he told setanta.com.

"He asked what he was like, how he operated, and Martin would have been very pleased if Clough had ever been in the frame for the United job. I think he would have got it.

"At that stage Clough was at the height of his powers, had won the European Cup twice. But Forest had finished higher than United [in the First Division] a couple of seasons before, so the teams were in similar positions.

"I don't think he [Edwards] ever made a move, but I think he had a lot of respect for Clough."