When Sir Alex told me my time was up

The rugged centre-back joined the Reds from Bohemians in 1978 and stayed a full decade, helping the club to win two FA Cups under Ron Atkinson, before signing for Sporting Gijon in Spain.

Atkinson had considered selling Moran and fellow defender Mike Duxbury to Coventry City in 1981, when taking over the helm at Old Trafford, due to interest from former United boss Dave Sexton in signing the pair.

Instead, it was Ferguson who would call time on his Reds career, with a conversation that left the Republic of Ireland international a little bemused!

Speaking during our latest UTD Podcast episode, Moran said: "When my contract was up, that was in '88, he [Sir Alex] pulled me in and just said: 'Listen Kevin, we're thinking of letting you go.'

"And I said: 'That's fine'. And I always remember I said to him: 'Do you mind me asking you why you're letting me go?'

"And he said: 'Well, two main reasons. I like my centre-backs to be at least six-feet tall. So I said: 'There's not much I can do about that!' And the other one, he says: 'Well, I'm building my team at the moment and you're just the wrong side of 30.'

"I said: 'There's not much I can do about that either!"

"So they were two things I couldn't do much about," Moran admitted. "But in the end, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me, to be honest.

"I left and I went to Spain, with Sporting Gijon. I'm over there six months later, seven months, and I pick up the paper and I'm reading what's happening back home.

"The next I know, Manchester United have just signed Mal Donaghy [from Luton Town]. He's 5ft 11ins and 31 years of age!" 

Kevin then clarifies he was only a quarter of an inch shorter than the Northern Ireland international!

Moran could have left earlier if Sexton had got his way, when the Coventry boss approached Atkinson about doing a double deal to be reunited with his former players.

"Immediately, there was a kind of a sense of who's going to be around?" recalled Kevin. "Who's staying? Who's going?

"I was linked then with leaving. I remember Dave Sexton left and went to Coventry City and he came in to buy Mike Duxbury and myself. But somebody, I don't know who it was, said to Ron Atkinson, 'just hold on to the two guys for a second'. I think he was willing to almost take the money and let us go and look for other players then as well because he wouldn't have known too much about it.

"And then, in the end, both Mike and myself stayed on a lot longer than maybe expected."

Listen to the Kevin Moran UTD Podcast in full on ManUtd.com and the United App. It's also available from all the usual providers.