United prepare to counter Howard allegations

Manchester United are preparing to launch a vigorous defence against allegations that they made hidden payments to agents in the £2.3m (€3.3m) summer transfer of goalkeeper Tim Howard.

A dossier on Howard’s move from Metrostars in the United States has been handed to the Football Association for investigation after it was claimed money was passed from one agent to another after the deal had been completed.

Alex Ferguson’s son Jason is mentioned in the report as being a close associate of Monaco-based agent Mike Morris – the man to whom the second payment is alleged to have been made, raising a potential conflict of interest.

However, United officials are furious at the insinuation and insist they were perfectly satisfied with the job Swiss-based agent Gaetano Marotta did on their behalf.

Having paid what they state as “an appropriate sum” to Marotta, United feel they have acted entirely within FIFA regulations.

They also claim that, as a plc, they have one of the best business structures in the Premier League for dealing with transfers.

However, having received the documentation, the FA are now duty-bound to launch a full investigation into not just the Howard deal, but also those of Harry Kewell’s move from Leeds to Liverpool and Ivan Campo’s arrival at Bolton from Real Madrid, details of which have also been forwarded to Soho Square.

Anyone expecting a speedy resolution to the case will be disappointed though.

A similar investigation involving Bosko Balaban’s £6m (€8.6m) move from Dinamo Zagreb to Aston Villa in August 2001 has been in process for 18 months and there is still no sign of an end.

“We receive information from all kinds of areas making allegations surrounding transfer deals,” an FA source told the Press Association.

“Clearly, as the governing body in this country we must investigate any allegation to ensure there is no wrong-doing.

“However, that does not guarantee action will be taken unless the wrong-doing can be proved.”

The FA compliance unit has the power to interview anyone – agent, player, manager or official – connected with any alleged offence but even at this early stage it seems highly unlikely United will be the subject of any charge.

What will be of more concern at Old Trafford is the further squall of negative publicity that surrounds the club.

For the past three months United have been forced to defend record signing Rio Ferdinand over his missed drugs test, with the central defender still having another week to decide whether he will appeal against his eight-month ban.

Earlier this week, Fulham owner Mohamed al Fayed launched a stinging attack on United for trying to lure Louis Saha from the Cottagers, although Ferguson has since countered with an equally vehement defence.

And amid all this is the manager’s high-profile legal dispute with major shareholder John Magnier over the breeding rights to record-breaking horse Rock of Gibraltar.

The irony of the latest allegations is that the £2.3m (€3.3m) shelled out for Howard appears to be one of the most astute pieces of business in Ferguson’s 17-year managerial reign.

Plucked from relative obscurity, Howard’s form has been outstanding an only on Wednesday produced another man of the match performance in the Red Devils’ 2-1 Premiership win at Bolton.