A friend of Sir Alex Ferguson has been sacked as a Manchester United VIP host after he put his arm around a female colleague and called her ‘love’.

Vince Miller, 82, is said to have been forced out of his role as matchday compere at Old Trafford after nearly 30 years in the job.

It comes after a female colleague made a formal complaint that he had put his arm around her and called her ‘love’.

Vince, a singer and comedian from Stockport known as ‘the king of the comperes’, was a popular figure at the Theatre of Dreams and counted former manager Sir Alex Ferguson among his friends.

He would interview Sir Alex and other United legends on matchdays for fans enjoying corporate hospitality.

Former colleagues of Vince, whose son Danny plays Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale, are said to be ‘gutted’.

One pal, promoter Micky Martin, told the M.E.N: “I think it’s disgraceful and disgusting. All he did was bring a bit of Mancunian warmth to what he was doing by calling someone ‘love’.

“She’s taken offence and reported it. He was asked to resign graciously and offered two tickets in the North Stand for the rest of the season. He refused to accept as it would have made him look guilty.

“Sir Matt Busby would spin in his grave if he knew what had happened. I’ve known Vince for over 40 years. His work as the club has been impeccable. The stars all love him. He’s devastated. All he’s done is bring out the warm Mancunian in him but one of the waitresses was offended.

"Some people in different parts of the country call you ‘duck’, or ‘sweetheart’ or ‘darling’. We say ‘love’. Everybody in Coronation Street says ‘love’. Should they be sacked? I wouldn’t have thought so. I think it’s disgraceful. I really do.

“Vince has known all the stars like the late great Matt Monro. Shirley Bassey loves him. Vic Damone loves him. Johnny Mathis loves him. For him to be treated like this by a club he devoted 30 years to is disgraceful.”

Vince reportedly said: “I had 29 great years there and don’t want to go into it. It’s all done and dusted. I had a great friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson and I decided to retire with dignity.”

Club sources confirmed that a complaint had been received about Mr Miller, resulting in his departure from the post.

A United spokeswoman said: “All of our lounges receive feedback from fans that enjoy the facilities on match day.

“As a result of the feedback we received in the Old Boardroom over a period of time, we have changed the offering to supporters in that room and part of that change has meant a change in room host.”