United boss regrets Ince jibe

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he was wrong to call Paul Ince a 'big-time Charlie'.

Ferguson used the term to describe his former midfielder, who was then playing for Liverpool, during a pre-match team-talk that was filmed by a television crew making a documentary.

But now Ferguson, who goes head-to-head with the Blackburn boss on Saturday when he takes United to Ewood Park, has confessed the comments were a mistake.

"It was a mistake to call Paul a big-time Charlie," the United boss said. "We let the TV cameras into the dressing room but it won't happen again.

"The fans did not like him because he joined Liverpool. It doesn't matter who the player is, if they go to Liverpool there is a different agenda altogether with our supporters."

He added: "I had no problems with Paul and certainly not with his ego. You could not have a honeymoon all the time with him because he was so volatile.

"But he was a good player and he never let us down.

"In the end we received an offer from Inter Milan that was too good to turn down given I had Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham coming through."