Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson fielded an approach from Newcastle United - and considered the job.

Ferguson was sounded out by Newcastle after Kevin Keegan infamously walked out on the club in 2012.

John Gibson, who has covered Newcastle United for the last 60 years, recalls the 'sliding doors moment' on the latest episode of The Everything is Black and White Podcast.

Quoted by the Evening Chronicle, Gibson revealed: "Privately, he had huge respect for Newcastle United, and mainly for the fans.

"At the time when we had the Sir John Hall and Freddy Shepherd combo running Newcastle United, Ferguson was approached privately about coming to Newcastle United.

"He did consider it because of the fan base.

"This was when Newcastle were the Entertainers when they bought everybody and ended up with the world record for Alan Shearer and tried to sign George Weah and Roberto Baggio - they didn't know the definition of 'you can't get that guy'.

"They would just come back and say 'well, let's test it'.

"So they did ask him, illegally, if he would be interested to come to Newcastle - and he did think about it.

"That's the respect he had for a wee club. "