United want Rio verdict in writing

Manchester United have requested written clarification for the reasons behind Rio Ferdinand’s eight-month drugs ban.

Ferdinand was today officially notified of the punishment, handed down by an independent three-man commission at Bolton last Friday and, according to the Press Association, United immediately made their request on his behalf in line with FA regulations.

While the decision will prolong the amount of time Ferdinand has to appeal against his suspension, United feel they are justified in asking for further details as the central defender and his legal team ponder their next course of action.

Because of an anticipated delay over the Christmas holidays, United do not expect to receive a reply until early next week, probably by fax.

It is only when the response is sent that Ferdinand’s 14-day appeal deadline kicks in.

So, should the reply be issued on Monday as anticipated, the 25-year-old will have to decide by January 12 – the day his ban is due to start – whether he was going to contest the suspension.

Nothing coming out of the United camp in the last few days has suggested there has been any change of heart from the official response to the verdict.

At the time club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins said an appeal was “inevitable”.

Before the conclusion of the hearing, United manager Alex Ferguson went so far as to suggest Ferdinand should take the matter to the civil courts should any appeal not prove fruitful, although that statement has already brought a stinging response from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Ferdinand has been told by Ferguson that his place in the Old Trafford line-up over the Christmas period is not under threat but as it stands, he would miss the remainder of United’s season once he has faced Newcastle on January 11.

Providing the former West Ham favourite lodges his appeal during the first full week of the New Year, his hearing, chaired by an independent QC, is likely to be heard at the beginning of February, before the Red Devils re-enter the Champions League.

Meanwhile, United have refused to comment on Fulham’s claim they have made an offer for striker Louis Saha.

The French forward has scored 10 goals for the Cottagers this season and revealed earlier this weekend that a move to Old Trafford would be “a dream”.

Ferguson is a known admirer of Saha and has already admitted he is in the hunt for some extra forward firepower to take the pressure off Ruud van Nistelrooy when the transfer window opens.

However, if he is to prise Saha away from London, he faces a fight as Fulham chief executive officer Jim Hone insisted his club have no desire or reason to sell the player, whose contract still has over two years to run.

“We can confirm that there have been unsolicited and unwelcome enquiries from a number of clubs, including Manchester United,” he told www.fulhamfc.com

“It has been made clear to those clubs that Fulham does not wish, and has no financial requirement, to sell the player.

“Louis has consistently maintained that he is happy at Fulham and understands the importance of playing regular first-team football at this stage of his career.

“Neither the club nor Louis believes it would be beneficial for his future to become a squad member elsewhere.”

Ferguson might not be ready to give up on the 25-year-old Parisian, who had a brief spell on loan at Newcastle in 1999.

The United boss is considering other options though and was among the crowd watching Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Leeds last night when he was able to cast his eye over Nicolas Anelka, Alan Smith, James Milner and Mark Viduka, for whom he is already reported to have had one offer turned down.