Busby kept Fergie in Man United job, says Charlton

Bobby Charlton has revealed that Matt Busby helped ensure Alex Ferguson never came under serious threat of the sack as Manchester United boss.

Life for Ferguson could have been so different had United's original knight of the realm wavered when the pressure started to be applied ahead of the famous FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest in 1990.

As it happened, Busby was solidly behind his fellow Scot, feelings that were portrayed to the United board by Charlton, who insisted the Old Trafford hierarchy always knew they had someone special at the helm.

"Sometimes you would have a little chat about things but Matt was in no doubt either," Charlton explained.

"He didn't have a worry at all. He knew we had the right man."

It is one of Ferguson's great joys that Busby, whose record as longest-serving United boss he will take on Sunday, was still alive and at Old Trafford to celebrate at the party that followed a day after that 26-year wait for the title had been brought to an end in 1993.

The elation on Busby's face when United took the field for the carnival night against Blackburn after Aston Villa had failed to overcome Oldham gave away his feelings.

After building a club around his own European odyssey, the tragedy of Munich and glory against Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, Busby knew United had a worthy successor.

"That night was magic," recalled Charlton.

"The old man was so happy. He loved Alex as well. He couldn't help it.

"Alex had this personality. He made things happen. Every part of the club was buzzing.

"There is no way that, even had we lost at Nottingham Forest, anything would have happened. No way at all.

"Everyone knew where we were going and what was going to happen."

As it turned out, the media storm was calmed by a Mark Robins header at Forest that propelled United on a course towards Wembley, where they needed two games to overcome Crystal Palace before lifting the first silverware of the Ferguson era.

Eleven Premier League titles and two European Cups later, Ferguson will hope when the fuss has died down, all the talk will be of a United win at Chelsea on Sunday that will consolidate their place at the Premier League summit and keep them on course for a record 19th championship.