Alex Ferguson made some big changes when he first came to Manchester United. He made a point in altering the culture at the club, one that had been rather lax when it came to things such as nutrition and the consumption of alcohol among the players.
Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside are the two players who most famously moved on during this period, with the Scot believing that the pair were a bad influence within the squad.
Kevin Moran was another player that was moved on around this period, although it was said that was for different reasons. The Dubliner was a mainstay in the Manchester United side for almost a decade at that point, becoming a fan favourite at Old Trafford due to his no-nonsense style at the heart of the defence.
Despite this, Ferguson decided to move him on at the end of the 1987/88 season, his second at the club.
Kevin Moran recalls Alex Ferguson selling him at Manchester United
Kevin Moran was not exactly keen on leaving Manchester United at this time, although the matter was taken out of his hands.
During the brilliant Kevin Moran: Codebreaker, which will air on RTÉ on Monday evening, he recalls how the reasons Ferguson gave him for booting out of the club didn't exactly add up.
In the documentary, the Dubliner remembered his manager spelling out his reasoning for allowing him to leave United. However, after moving to Sporting Gijon, it soon became apparent that Ferguson's explanation was a bogus one.
I remember coming to the end of the season. Alex [Ferguson] pulled me into his office and he said 'listen Kevin, I'm going to let you go, I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing but this is what I feel is best for the club'.
I asked him why he was letting me go. He said 'there's two reasons, I like my centre backs to be six-foot'.
There wasn't much I could do about that.
I asked 'what's the other one?'
He said 'you're just the wrong side of 30'. I said 'okay, nothing I can do about that'.
I was out in Spain then. I remember being out there for four or five months and picking up a paper. It said 'Alex Ferguson has just signed Mal Donaghy from Luton Town, he will be playing centre back, he's 5'11" and 31-years old.'
If anything about my career, yes I had two FA Cup winner medals, but it was not winning the league. We got close on a number of occasions, but not getting over the final hurdle has always been my major disappointment.
Northern Ireland international Donaghy would have a decent spell at United, making 89 league appearances over four seasons.
In saying that, it's difficult to imagine that Kevin Moran would not have done an even better job for the club had he been granted the opportunity during that period.
Kevin Moran: Codebreaker airs on RTÉ One on Monday, May 29th at 9.35pm.
SEE ALSO: Championship Clubs Reportedly Lining Up To Sign Ireland Starlet On Loan
