Sir Alex Ferguson shook hands on 'concrete' agreement to become Tottenham's manager, reveals former chairman Irving Scholar

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Sir Alex Ferguson had a 'concrete' agreement to become Tottenham manager two years before his appointment at Manchester United, according to former White Hart Lane chairman Irving Scholar. 

Scholar, who was Tottenham chairman for nine years from 1982 until he was bought out by Alan Sugar in 1991, revealed he shook hands with Ferguson on a deal when the Scot was still Aberdeen manager. 

But Ferguson reneged on the agreement and chose to stay in Scotland for two more seasons before joining United in 1986.

Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 league titles during his 27-year spell as Manchester United boss 

Scholar's story is quoted in Martin Lipton's book 'White Hart Lane - The Spurs Glory Years', with the property tycoon revealing that he targeted Ferguson to replace former boss Keith Burkinshaw, who had just resigned after winning the UEFA Cup.

'The truth was that I had been talking to and negotiating with Alex Ferguson about a deal,' Scholar is quoted as saying. 'He and I had had very long and detailed discussions.

'I told him that I was a very old-fashioned type of chap and that the most important thing was that once you agree something, once you shake someone's hand, it's in concrete

'Once you do that, then you do not — under any circumstances whatsoever — you do not go back on it. It's over'.

Irving Scholar, pictured with Terry Venables, claims he shook hands with Ferguson over a deal

Ferguson remained at Aberdeen for two more seasons before joining United in 1986

Tottenham instead appointed Peter Shreeves, who took them to third in his first season in north London before a tenth-placed finish saw him dismissed the year after.

Ferguson went on to become the most decorated manager in British history - winning 13 league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League trophies during his 27-year reign at Old Trafford.

Tottenham meanwhile had 20 different permanent managers over the same period from 1986 until 2013.