Edwards: United close to naming new boss

Outgoing Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards has revealed the Old Trafford club were just ‘days away’ from appointing a successor to Alex Ferguson.

The long-serving Scot, who picked up his eighth Premiership trophy at Goodison Park on Sunday, abruptly changed his mind about retirement 18 months ago, signing a new three-year contract and there has already been speculation it will be extended before it runs out in 2005.