The most eagerly-awaited encounter at Elland Road this morning will not be on the pitch, but on the sidelines when Sir Alex Ferguson meets Brian Kidd.

Relations between the Manchester United manager and his former right-hand man have been as frosty as the recent weather since the release of Ferguson's autobiography in the summer of 1999.

In 'Managing My Life' Ferguson questioned Kidd's coaching ability and claimed he was a moaner who could probably not have succeeded him as United manager.

Kidd, who was then in charge of Blackburn having walked out on Ferguson in December 1998, responded by claiming Walt Disney wanted the book as a sequel to the film Fantasia.

It had all been so different back in 1988 when Ferguson appointed Kidd on to his coaching staff.

Ferguson made Kidd his youth development officer and was impressed by how the 1968 European Cup winner set up an extensive scouting network in the greater Manchester area.

Kidd had a huge role in the success of United's School of Excellence and was a big influence in the early careers of the likes of David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers.

In 1991 Ferguson made Kidd his No 2 after Archie Knox returned north to join Rangers.

To outsiders they seemed the perfect partnership as Ferguson masterminded United's domination of the decade while Kidd took the day-to-day training and acted as a friend to all the players.

Trophy followed trophy and Kidd was viewed by many as the natural successor to Ferguson.

Cracks in their relationship began to emerge in 1995 when United finished the season empty-handed for the first time since 1989.

Ferguson took exception when Kidd went behind his back to the chairman Martin Edwards to question the wisdom of selling Paul Ince to Inter Milan.

Ferguson accused Kidd of trying to undermine him again in the summer of 1998.

Ferguson felt alone after a rare trophyless season at Old Trafford and was hurt that Kidd had again gone complaining to the chairman about United's training regime.

Ferguson felt let down when Kidd left days before United's crunch Champions League decider with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to take up the Everton manager's job.

At the time Ferguson disguised his true feelings about Kidd.

The first sign of the breakdown came in May 1999 on the night United drew 0-0 at Ewood Park to send Blackburn down.

Everyone was surprised when Ferguson did not console Kidd.

This, though, was nothing compared to the explosive revelations about Kidd in Ferguson's autobiography that summer.

Kidd was deeply hurt by the criticisms and 12 months ago he refused Ferguson's offer to return to Old Trafford as youth coach.

Instead he accepted a similar position with David O'Leary at Leeds.

As far as Kidd is concerned, there are some wounds which time cannot heal