Ferguson ‘faces drop over turf war with Irishmen’
Henk Potts, of Barclays Stockbrokers, believes that Magnier and McManus are ready to flex their muscles again and change the landscape at Old Trafford.
Mr Potts, an equity strategist, said: "I certainly believe that Magnier and McManus will make a full bid for Manchester United. They are in a fantastic position as they own a quarter of the company.
"You wouldn't want to own 25% of Manchester United as an investment you would want to own all of Manchester United or you would try and make a profit.
"It is unlikely they would make a profit on the investment they have made, given the prices they have paid. I would suggest their holding is very much strategic rather than investment and the base for them to come in and make a full bid for Manchester United.
"We are going away from Plcs and going back to rich businessmen taking over football once again. I can see them taking control and running the club in a different way.
"When that happens they will remember who their friends were and who exactly didn't help them out.
"The board members and Sir Alex Ferguson may find their job prospects limited."
United are holding an internal review of all their recent transfer dealings following demands for an investigation from Magnier and McManus, through their Cubic Expression company, over the huge sums paid to agents involved in the negotiations.
It only fuels the feeling the Irishmen are applying pressure to the Old Trafford board as the ongoing dispute between Ferguson and Magnier over the stud rights to record-breaking stallion Rock of Gibraltar intensifies.
Mr Potts said: "It really is the clash of the titans and there are a number of issues you can point to.
"There is a lot of animosity revolving around Rock of Gibraltar which has spilled over into the corporate relationship between the large shareholders, like Magnier and McManus, about the way United has been run.
"If there weren't problems with Rock of Gibraltar perhaps these type of issues could have been resolved a bit more amicably.
"You have some very powerful figures, who are used to getting their own way. They are ruthless and they employ their financial firepower to get the results they want.
"They are not happy about the financial structure or the decision making and they are not at all happy with the transparency revolving around the transfer deals."
It is understood United are being urged to post agents' fees at the closure of the two transfer windows.
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