United chiefs seek face-to-face talks with Magnier

MANCHESTER UNITED want face-to-face peace talks to end the dispute between Alex Ferguson and the club’s largest shareholder John Magnier.

United want the issue resolved as soon as possible, but are not prepared to enter into correspondence with the Irish camp via letters. Instead they have offered an open invitation to sit down and speak with Magnier and his partner JP McManus.

It is understood that Ferguson and Magnier have agreed on an intermediary to broker any compromise deal, but United's chief executive David Gill and the rest of the board believe the row over ownership of stud fees for the racehorse Rock of Gibraltar is essentially a matter for the manager.