Just found this amusing anecdote in a Barry Fry interview on the BBC website.
'Harry Redknapp stole my player!'
I had this player at Maidstone, Mark Newson. He could play at the back like Bobby Moore - majestic, never gave it away. Or play in midfield like Bryan Robson - wins it, passes it, scores goals. Harry Redknapp phoned me up and I said '£300,000 for him Harry'. Harry said we didn't have him signed on and I explained it was because we didn't believe in tax, so we had players on non-contract forms but also a blank contract that they sign. So £300,000 to sign him. Harry replied that Mark had gone in my office and taken the contract out my drawer! I said, 'you tea leaf Redknapp - next time I see you, I'll blow your kneecaps off!'. Next time I saw Harry was at Ascot - he give me a 66-1 winner and we've been the best of mates ever since."
George Best and Barry Fry were football's unlikely pals - this is the story of an enduring friendship forged at Manchester United.
www.bbc.co.uk