Chief executive Peter Kenyon today dismissed suggestions Manchester United had done a deal to bring Sven-Goran Eriksson to Old Trafford as Alex Ferguson's successor.
Ferguson expressed the opinion that he believed the England boss was the best man to take over his job - and that United had done a deal to bring the Swede to Old Trafford.
United's search for a new manager ended just over 12 months ago when Ferguson completed an about turn on his decision to retire and signed a new three-year contract.
It is thought Eriksson, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Roma coach Fabien Capello were among those on the United hit-list.
Kenyon has since hinted he may look to extend Ferguson's tenure at the club, but today maintained the Scot was always their first choice.
"We made a statement at the time which was quite clear and that was we never concluded a deal with Sven and never discussed the position," Kenyon told Sky Sports News.
"We got the best man to do the job in Sir Alex. The day he decided he wasn't going to retire, I was delighted he was going to continue with us. He is in the first year of a new three-year contract and we had always said that was our first choice."
"But on the basis Alex was going to retire, we had to do the right thing for Manchester United. We interviewed several candidates. On the basis Sir Alex was going to retire, our job was to get the best possible man for the job."
What it came down to was retaining Alex and that's all that is important - and the rest is history."
PA