SIR Alex Ferguson is finally showing signs of old age.

Even his old skipper – and now rival manager – Steve Bruce reckons he must be losing his touch.

Twenty five years into the job and an event as big as the naming of a stand – in his name I might add – happens at Old Trafford and he doesn’t have a clue.

It had to be the best kept secret in football.

Renaming the huge North Stand in recognition of his manager’s incredible achievements over the past quarter of a century was the brainchild of United chief executive David Gill, who was determined to keep Fergie, pictured, in the dark – hardly the easiest of tasks.

It was a tough enough job to keep it from the media considering every news organisation in the country, if not the world, pay their top men to keep their fingers on the Old Trafford pulse.

But to keep it from Fergie .

. . this is the man who down the years has prided himself in knowing everything about everything, especially anything that is happening at United, yet a select group not only commissioned the sign and had it erected under the cover of darkness, but also managed to conceal it under a massive banner until it was unveiled just before kick off on Saturday afternoon.

You have to hand it to United, they have a knack for doing things right – even down to arranging for one of Fergie’s old boys, Wes Brown, giving him a helping hand with the own goal that ensured he ended the day with a 1-0 victory.