The League Manger’s Association, of which I am a founder member, has thankfully over the years moved on from a situation where they waited for the top table in football to make decisions which were handed down to the managers to implement.

At one time the managers were only part of an association which included coaches secretaries, admin staff and commercial staff.

Over the years, after we broke away, the others set-up their own sections of the football business.

Our chief execs initially were people like Steve Coppell and Jim Smith – managers who were in between jobs.

Eventually John Barnwell took over with no desire to go back into management and put in more than a dozen years of solid work which enabled us to be part of the top table.

John retired just over a year ago to be replaced by Richard Bevan who had experience with the cricketers association and has now set about taking us to an even higher level.

This week was a good example – a fundraising event for the LMA benevolent fund was held at Wembley.

It was a dinner followed by a question and answers session with the two most successful managers in so far as winning trophies is concerned in world football – Arsene Wenegr and Alex Ferguson.

Their public image would give the impression they would never be seen socially sharing a room never mind a table.

In awe I, as vice president, was asked to host a table of businessmen who were in awe of the two great managers.

The rest of the room was full of current managers but also reminded me of the precarious nature of the job because there were more ex-managers, coaches, players at the end of their careers looking for jobs than those in jobs.

Obviously it was a good night for networking and meeting up with old friends.

Entertainment was given by Kevin Connolly, a great impersonator who has made a living for many years now, similar to our own Mike Osman, going around mainly sporting dinners.

He brought the house down with his impressions of Arsene and Alex bravely in front of them but also Sven Goran Eriksson with advice for Fabio Capello, who was sitting in the room.

I think most of it went over his head but he joined in the laughter – whether he knew what he was laughing at I’m not sure.

The fascination to all concerned was the questions directed to them by Richard Keys that had been offered up by people in the audience.

The first one was very topical – in the future will club managers just be asked to come in and train the team while other people in the club signed the players?

The silence Alex gave at first said everything. He eventually came out with ‘it will certainly not happen in my time.’ He went on to say in his 23 years or so at Man United, never had anyone on the board tried to interfere and previous managers would agree.

Arsene, much more vocal and humorous than most would think, said the same about his club and made the point that the Arsenal hierarchy always think the manager is the most important member of the football club.

Why else, he said, would the manager always be the one who gets the sack?

Baggage Another question was which player would the manager pick from the other team over the years?

Alex said Bergkamp whilst Arsene said Cantona.

Alex mentioned that Cantona brought a lot of baggage with him but he found very quickly that really what he needed was to be loved. His whims and strange ways had to be taken into account with his extraordinary skills but Alex pointed out once he was made so welcome and appreciated the influence he had on younger players was enormous.

When asked about the best player over their time at their respective teams, Alex said Scholes and Giggs, mainly because of their 14 year tenure but if it was only for skill it would be Ronaldo.

Surprisingly Arsene picked out Tony Adams – an ideal professional who gave a great example to everyone else.

They both stressed that attitude and character were more important initially to have in a player than even skill.

Asked which team other than their own they would like to win the league, Alex said Crewe Alexandra but then added he wouldn’t mind Arsenal before some others – he didn’t mention Chelsea but I think everyone understood.

Arsene showed his true hunger and mentality by saying he could not think of anyone else but his own team winning it.

Just to finalise the type of evening it was they were asked for the best moments in their career?

Arsene said it was his first ever win but also he learnt that losses linger longer.

Alex related how he was an apprentice tool maker in the ship yards, had the papers to emigrate to Canada, was called up unexpectedly for St Johnstone first team, scored a hat-trick against Rangers, was given a contract and the rest is history.

A great night was had by all.