Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson found himself the centre of controversy again yesterday after saying in an interview he believed his club had last year agreed a deal to replace him with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Ferguson (61), who changed his mind about retiring to sign a new three-year contract in February 2002, said he believed the Swede had early last year shaken hands on a deal to replace him at Old Trafford after the World Cup finals.

The Scot - in the headlines earlier this week after admitting to injuring midfielder David Beckham in a dressing-room incident - was also unflattering in his comments.

He described the Swede as "a nice easy choice" for the club, who "doesn't change anything. He sails along, nobody falls out with him. He comes out and says 'the first half we were good, the second half we were not so good, I am pleased with the result'," said Ferguson. "I think he'd have been all right for United, you know what I mean? The acceptable face."

"I think they'd done the deal all right," Ferguson said. "I don't know for certain but I'm sure it was Eriksson. I think they'd shaken hands. They couldn't put anything on paper because he was still England manager."

But United chief executive Peter Kenyon said later yesterday a deal was never struck with Eriksson. "We made a statement at the time - we've never concluded a deal with Sven and we never discuss the position," Kenyon said.

Ferguson later yesterday played down his remarks: "It was my opinion - I have no idea who they approached for the job but personally I thought he was the best man for it.

"That is what I said and there is nothing wrong with that - I discussed the best management style because after having 15 years of Alex Ferguson the club may want a change."