Fans see red as Irish tycoons up United stake

THE brinkmanship engaged in between the Coolmore Mafia and Alex Ferguson continued last night with the world’s richest club, Manchester United, and racing’s blue riband, the Cheltenham Gold Cup caught in the cross hairs.

John Magnier and JP McManus are expected to request board representation at Manchester United after edging closer to overall control of the club yesterday.

They want to pile the pressure on Ferguson to back off in his legal claim to 50% of the stud earnings of champion stallion Rock of Gibraltar, valued at €100 million.