Harry Harris asked about Ferguson’s grudges against journalists

Harry Harris was asked whether Ferguson had held grudges against journalists who had called for his dismissal. In the interview about Sir Alex Ferguson, Harris did not hesitate when faced with the question. The discussion also revisits the relationship between the two men and a career what-if: Ferguson’s possible move to Tottenham.

Harris covered Ferguson for decades and wrote two books about him. He saw how Ferguson controlled the environment around Manchester United. Their relationship rested on mutual respect, but Harris was not willing to give up his independence to preserve access to the manager.

Ferguson was portrayed as fiercely competitive, highly demanding and protective of his authority. Questioning him could leave reporters on the outside, while at Old Trafford a player or staff member who fell short of his expectations generally did not last. Harris says he experienced that side of Ferguson first-hand.

The interview also revisits Tottenham’s approach, an episode of particular interest to Harris, a lifelong supporter of the club. In 1984, Irving Scholar, then chairman of Spurs, believed he had secured Ferguson’s agreement while Ferguson was managing Aberdeen. Scholar had identified him as the successor to Keith Burkinshaw; negotiations had advanced to a meeting in Paris, where the two men shook hands. Ferguson nevertheless remained at Aberdeen for another two years before accepting the Manchester United job in November 1986.

Harris describes Scholar’s conviction without presenting it as a certainty shared by Ferguson: “In Irving’s mind, the deal was done.” Harris says Scholar took the handshake as a commitment. But, he notes, football can change overnight. Manchester United needed a new manager and its offer was better than Spurs’ one; Harris believes there was little choice once that proposal arrived.

For a Tottenham supporter, the question of what might have happened is compelling. Asked whether he had wondered about Ferguson taking over at White Hart Lane, Harris replied: “I haven’t wondered. I know what could have been. It could have been very different.” He believes Ferguson would not have tolerated some of Spurs’ players’ antics and could have achieved great results with the team. That possibility, as much as the agreement Scholar thought he had secured, gives the episode its particular significance.