Such is Steve McClaren's fame that Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards cannot remember his name. When Edwards introduced the club's new assistant manager at yesterday's press conference at Old Trafford he called him Steve McClaridge.

United manager Alex Ferguson quickly whispered "McClaren" under his breath and Edwards corrected his mistake.

Edwards' gaffe illustrates just how little known McClaren is outside Derby, where he was Jim Smith's number two for 3 1/2 years. That does not bother Ferguson, who has done his homework on the 37-year-old Yorkshireman. He has no doubts that the young coach is the best man to replace Brian Kidd.

"When I started my research programme and went through all the clubs and who their assistants were, it all came back to Steve. Quite simply we wanted to make sure we got the best and we have."

Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs believes he will be fit for United's quarter-final against Inter Milan next month. Giggs injured his hamstring last week against Derby which prompted Ferguson to announce that he had little chance of being fit to play in the first leg against Inter at Old Trafford on March 3rd. "The injury is nowhere near as bad as it was when I missed seven weeks last season when I tore the same hamstring," Giggs said yesterday.

Two women football fans from Yorkshire scooped over £78,000 from Ladbrokes after Charlton beat Wimbledon. The women predicted nine results from nine matches with a £10 stake over the weekend and has £29, 807 rising on Charlton to win a 13-8.