Former Nottingham Forest and Manchester United striker Peter Davenport has told setanta.com that he believes that United were seriously considering appointing Brian Clough as manager before opting for Alex Ferguson.
Clough has been in the news this week as the film version of David Peace’s fictionalised portrayal of Clough, ‘The Damned United’ hits cinema screens.
Davenport played under Clough and Ferguson, two of the towering figures of top-flight management, in his career, joining United from Forest in March 1986.
He was at the club when Ron Atkinson was sacked, and has exclusively told setanta.com that he feels chairman Martin Edwards was keen on appointing Clough before finally opting for Aberdeen boss Ferguson in November.
Press reports at the time hinted that Clough was in the frame, but Edwards denied that an offer was ever made.
However, Davenport has now said that Edwards spoke to him three times in the months between March and November 1986, asking his opinion about Clough as a manager.
“Martin 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.”