United board backs Fergie

MANCHESTER UNITED’S under-pressure board have fired a warning shot at John Magnier and JP McManus by declaring: “We are lucky to have Alex Ferguson.”

Confirmation that Ferguson has signed a one-year rolling contract that should extend his stay with United beyond 2005 has done nothing to ease the growing tension over Magnier and McManus's next move in their increasingly bitter dispute with the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Having already agreed Ferguson should be given the deal formally rubber-stamped yesterday, six weeks after it was originally handed to the Scot's lawyers for scrutiny, Magnier and McManus's position remains as it was on Monday.