Former Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has spoken of how he took Sir Alex Ferguson off Aberdeen's hands back in 1986.

Edwards readily agreed to pay the Scottish club just £60,000 in compensation. And that works out at just over forty quid a week throughout the whole of Fergie's era.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: "Yes, we paid just £60,000 ­compensation. He was under contract at Aberdeen but had a clause written in that if Manchester ­United came in for him, he was going to be released.

"It's a small amount now. And it's nothing compared to the service we have had out of him. The money was never an issue once we wanted him. We were going to pay whatever it took.

"It was United's greatest ever investment, especially when you think about the longevity of it.

"When you buy players, if you get ten years out of them you have done well. With players you don't ­normally get even that. Alex has been our guiding light. A huge influence and by far the greatest ever acquisition."