The media frenzy in May which followed Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager of Manchester United might never have taken place if a former Dundee FC player had simply said “Yes”.
Alex Stuart, part of the Dundee squad which reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in season 1962-63, and who played in both last-four games against AC Milan, was manager of Ayr United in 1978 and doing very well in keeping the Somerset Park side in the Scottish Premier Division.
Alex, speaking at the recent Dundee-AC Milan celebration evening at Dens Park, which I hosted, said: “Things were going well for me at Ayr United, with the team having a very good run.
“I knew at that time there was interest in me from other clubs and I received a call from Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald.
“He told me his manager Billy McNeill was leaving Pittodrie to join Celtic and would I meet him for a chat in Perth.
“This I did and he offered me the Pittodrie job at 2,000 a year above the 10,000 salary I was on with Ayr.
“Around the same time, my former club Dundee also offered me the manager’s job but at a salary 2,000 below what I was currently getting from the Honest Men.
“I mulled over both the offers and decided to stay with Ayr.
“A few days later, Fergie was appointed manager of the Dons.
“I’ve often wondered what might have happened if I had accepted the Aberdeen job and what would have happened to Fergie’s career if he hadn’t got the call at that time from Mr Donald.”
I asked Alex if he thought he might have gone on to really great things if he had taken the Pittodrie hotseat, suggesting he could also have done well up north and possibly gained a move to a big club down south.
“Unlikely!” he modestly countered.
Alex played 235 games for Dundee from seasons 1961-62 to 1967-68, scoring 31 goals.
After leaving Dens, he played for city neighbours Dundee United, then joined Montrose as player-manager.
He spent six years at Links Park before going to Ayr, then finishing his managerial career with St Johnstone in the late 1970s.
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