To deal with his successor Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair turned to Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson for advice.

Blair has claimed in his memoir 'A Journey' that his successor Brown "effectively blackmailed" him while he was in No.10 Downing Street.

Blair said he always suspected Brown, then his chancellor of Exchequer, of orchestrating an investigation into the cash-for-honours scandal.

Ferguson, who is known for his 'hairdryer treatment' to under performing players, said he would simply dump a problem player.

But Blair never ditched Brown even though relations between the two collapsed during Blair's tenure as Prime Minister.

Blair tells how he discussed the issue in general terms, without naming Brown, several times with Ferguson, a staunch Labour supporter.

Blair writes: "What would you do if you had a really difficult but brilliant player causing you problems? I would ask. Get rid of them, he would reply. And supposing after you got rid of them they were still in the dressing room and in the squad? I would say. That would be a different matter, he would reply, laughing."

Blair also claimed that the pressure on him to step aside became so great that he almost became addicted to alcohol as he faced coup attempts from Brown's supporters.

He disclosed that he began drinking every day, and admitted it was "becoming a support".

Brown reportedly put "relentless personal pressure" on him and Blair repeatedly considered sacking him but failed to find a suitable replacement. (ANI)