Ex-Manchester United director Maurice Watkins, who helped keep Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford when he threatened to retire in 2002, dies aged 79
* Former Manchester United director Maurice Watkins has passed away aged 79
* The sports lawyer was on the club's board for 28 years between 1984 and 2012
* Watkins helped hire legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford
* The lawyer also represented Rio Ferdinand and Eric Cantona in their trials
* He was British Swimming chairman and helped Team GB's Tokyo 2020 effort
Former Manchester United director Maurice Watkins CBE, who brought Sir Alex Ferguson to the Premier League club in 1986, has passed away aged 79.
Watkins spent 28 years at Old Trafford before retiring in 2012 and was involved in some of the biggest decisions the club made in that period.
Not only was Watkins crucial in appointing Ferguson, who went on to become the most successful manager in United's history, to the club - but he also convinced the Scot to stay on as manager when he threatened to retire after the 2001-02 season.
His final role in sport saw him take up the role of British Swimming chairman, with Team GB enjoying their most successful Olympic Games campaign in Tokyo this summer, just before his passing.
Former Manchester United director Maurice Watkins has passed away aged 79
Watkins (second right) helped to hire Sir Alex Ferguson (left) to Manchester United in 1986
Educated at Manchester Grammar School, Watkins became a director at United in 1984 - on the day Sir Bobby Charlton was appointed to the same role - and also held the position of club solicitor.
He represented former United and England defender Rio Ferdinand at the hearing which saw the defender banned from playing for eight months and fined £50,000 for failing to take a drugs test, as well as Eric Cantona at his assault trial when the striker performed a 'kung fu' kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons in January 1995.
But his most important role with the Red Devils was helping to keep Ferguson at the club when the Scot revealed in the summer of 2001 that he wanted to quit the club after the upcoming season due to personal reasons, against the board's wishes.
Watkins (right) represented Rio Ferdinand (left) when the defender was handed a drugs ban. He also represented Eric Cantona at his assault trial over his 1995 kung fu kick at Crystal Palace
Watkins worked with the United hierarchy to try and convince Ferguson to stay longer, with the manager deciding in February 2002 that he had reversed his decision. He would go lead United to six more Premier League titles and one more Champions League crown before he eventually retired from management in 2013.
Current United owner Malcolm Glazer tried to remove Watkins from the club's board at a 2005 AGM, but he remained in his board and lawyer roles after the attempt.
The Premier League club posted a statement on Twitter, saying: 'All at Manchester United are deeply saddened by the loss of our former Director, Maurice Watkins, who served the club with such distinction for over a quarter of a century. We send our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones at this time.'
Around the time of Watkins' resignation from Manchester United, he took up roles as interim Rugby League Football chairman, Barnsley FC chairman and director of Lancashire County Cricket Club.
He was appointed as British Swimming chairman in December 2012 and oversaw Team GB's Olympic and Paralympic cycles for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday said in a statement: 'I was so saddened to hear about Maurice. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
'Maurice was so well known in the sporting community and the sheer variety of sports that he was involved in throughout his life goes some way to showing the impact he had on the British sporting landscape.
Watkins' final role was chairman of Briitsh Swimming, while he also was chairman at Barnsley
'As Chair of British Swimming, he must have been immensely proud of the success that Britain's aquatics athletes had in Tokyo in the recent weeks. He will be sorely missed.'
British Swimming CEO Jack Buckner added: 'I have been fortunate to experience Maurice's personal dignity and humility. He has been a leader of deep wisdom and patient intelligence, the wise steward at the heart of the sport.
'Even in his last days, his total focus was on Tokyo and the great events which unfolded there. Maurice, a piece of these medals belong to you.
'Thanks for your massive contribution to British Swimming and everything you have done for British sport.'
Watkins was also known for his charity work, helping the NHS Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity for a decade-and-a-half and led the group's campaign to raise £20million for equipment and family accommodation during that time.
He was then appointed a CBE on the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2011 for his services to charity.
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