MK Dons boss Ince: Relationship with Man Utd's Sir Alex as strong as ever

MK Dons boss Paul Ince says he still has a close relationship with his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It was Ferguson who was first on the phone when Ince saw things slide at Blackburn Rovers.

"When I needed help as a manager, Sir Alex was the first one on the phone," said Ince to the Daily Mail.

"People think we don't get on. We are very good friends. He has got all these players who have gone into management - and deep down he is great to them. They played under him and tried to learn from him. None of us will ever be as good as him."

The list is long and includes Steve Bruce, Roy Keane, Mark McGhee, Mark Hughes, Alex McLeish and Bryan Robson. Not forgetting Ince himself, who began his managerial career at Macclesfield, then the 92nd club in English football, stopped off at MK Dons on route to Blackburn Rovers and returned to Milton Keynes for some "unfinished business".

"I did not leave Manchester United on the best of terms. But going to Inter was the best thing that happened to me. Looking back on it, I can't thank Sir Alex enough. We now speak all the time.

"He invites me to his golf days every year. We speak on the phone. He gives me players, for example Danny Simpson. That is not someone who does not give a toss about me."