Sir Alex Ferguson refused to speak to Man Utd chief after Chelsea decision

Former honcho Peter Kenyon has unveiled that gave him the silent treatment when he jumped ship to Chelsea. Decamping from to Stamford Bridge in 2003, the avowed United devotee previously worked side-by-side with the illustrious Ferguson for years.

He is said to have been pivotal in persuading him to defer retirement plans in 2002, not to mention securing top players such as and Dwight Yorke.

In his confession on the , hosted by ex-United star Ferdinand and Stephen Howson, Kenyon spilt the beans about being shunned by the legendary United gaffer upon assuming Chelsea's executive mantle in 2003, a position he maintained until the tail end of 2009.

Now at 70, and reflecting on Jose Mourinho's triumphs after the latter agreed to manage Chelsea in 2004, Kenyon remarked: "In [Mourinho's] first year, we won the league.

"First time in 50 years, so he did league back-to-back and FA Cup. Alex didn't speak to me during that period anyway, but that's a different story."

Ferdinand continued by lauding Mourinho's remarkable knack for instilling competitive energy and nature within the Chelsea squad while hinting at Kenyon's probably bemused reaction to Ferguson's cold shoulder, albeit one he presumably came to respect with time.

Kenyon concurred, stating: "Yeah, for sure, and you understand it's what it is because it's just 'win', it's a winning culture, and you've no time to spend time on people that are not with you.

"I mean, it's brutal, it is brutal, but if you look at the great things [Ferguson] did, as I said, he was the best man manager I've ever come across."

When probed about Ferguson's winning mentality, the ex-United CEO explained: "Well, you lose the game on Saturday, a game you shouldn't have lost, in his mind you shouldn't have lost it. You've been there, you've been on the coach, you've been on the plane.

"He takes you down to the depths [of negativity]. So, public, nothing to do with the boys. Privately, and all the best coaches are like this, 'it's your fault. You didn't do this, you didn't do that', whatever.

"So, the teams down here now, and he will pick a point in that journey home or at training the next day where he can't have you there, he's got to have you ready for the game on Tuesday.

"Massive game against Milan or somebody, and he'll change it like that. And he'll take you from, 'okay, you're punished enough now for the result you didn't get on Saturday, now you've got to be ready'."

Ferguson is celebrated as one of the most successful managers in English football history, having clinched the title 13 times, along with numerous other domestic and European accolades.

Mourinho, also dubbed 'The Special One', a moniker he himself created, is recognised as one of the greats, having secured three Premier League titles and setting a record for the fewest goals conceded (15) in a league season.

Ferguson's direct affiliation with United will end this season after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's his role as global football ambassador, which has earned him £2.1million per year since retiring in 2013.