Former Manchester United director Maurice Watkins has passed away.
His influence at Old Trafford was huge before he stepped down from the club in 2012 to pursue other interests away from football.
In an obituary for British Swimming where he was chairman, it wrote: “Maurice was a director at Manchester United FC for 28 years, famously brokering the deal to keep Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford after he had decided to quit.”
This was in back in 2002. A call from Watkins helped sway Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision and he went on to win another six Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup and three League Cups.
The Mail wrote that Watkins was influential in the appointment of Ferguson in the first place back in 1986.
Watkins took a personal role in the appointment, travelling to visit Ferguson in Scotland to persuade him to take on the role, along with three other United directors, The Times reported.
Watkins was director of Manchester United from 1984 to 2012, and of its PLC affiliated company from 1991 to 2004 as well as company secretary of MUTV from 1996 to 2007.
He was involved in everything from transfers to hirings and contracts, to even the legal aspects of Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan in 1995.
The Mirror wrote how in 1995 Watkins recommended the sale of Andrei Kanchelskis, helping to convince Sir Alex Ferguson to put his faith in the ‘Class of 92’.
The Business Desk wrote, “Watkins’ gigantic standing and influence extends far beyond the legal and sporting sectors where he is most known.”
Watkins was awarded a CBE in 2011 for his charity work, including as chair of the Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust fundraising board.
He also had a spell as chairman of Barnsley between 2013 and 2017. Watkins was 79 at the time of his passing.
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