Man U fans want Irish duo to reveal grievances

Manchester United fans have warned John Magnier and JP McManus to put up or shut up as the row with Alex Ferguson intensifies.

Despite confirmation yesterday that the Old Trafford club were to launch a “thorough internal review” into all their recent transfer dealings, it does not appear it will be enough to ease the concerns of the Irish business tycoons, who between them own over a quarter of the club.

United supporters have been astonished at the letters leaked to the Sunday Times last weekend which called on chairman Roy Gardner to suspend negotiations over Alex Ferguson’s new contract until their grievances were investigated.

The fans who travelled to Northampton on Sunday left no doubt as to where their loyalties on the matter lie, and the influential Independent Manchester United Supporters Association have now added their voice to the row.

“We keep hearing that John Magnier and JP McManus are powerful businessmen who are not to be trifled with,” said IMUSA chairman Jules Spencer.

“We may ‘only’ be supporters but, as Rupert Murdoch found out when he tried to buy our club, we will not be messed about either.

“We have a powerful voice and it should not be ignored.

“United fans made their feelings clear at Northampton on Sunday and will continue to do so until this matter is resolved.

“When we want questions answering we ask them. All we are getting at the moment is a personal vendetta and a dirty tricks campaign whose sole purpose appears to be dragging the names of Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson through the mud. It is not acceptable.

“If Magnier or McManus have issues they want to raise, they should be brave enough to raise them in public, not through the media. Otherwise, they should leave our club alone.

“As far as we are aware, neither man has any real connection to United and the longer this situation drags on, the more fans will want to ensure they have nothing to do with our club.

“Our message to them, or indeed any potential suitors, is ‘United are not for sale’.”

In addition to the review from which any improvements to their structures will be implemented during the summer, the Old Trafford hierarchy also confirmed their intention to follow the precedent set at Louis Saha’s unveiling on Friday by declaring all sums paid out to agents in all subsequent transfers.

By also stating their intention to ask the Premier League to implement “new guidelines in respect of dealing with agents”, United feel they are being transparent and have defended themselves against numerous allegations made in recent weeks over the arrivals of Tim Howard, Kleberson, David Bellion and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the Press Association understands it does not answer the specific complaints of Magnier and McManus as revealed in letters leaked to the Sunday Times.

The Irish horse-racing tycoons are yet to determine their exact response, although it will not affect the new rolling one-year contract manager Alex Ferguson is due to sign in the coming days.

The Ferguson contract saga has become something of a red herring in the row that has engulfed the club.

All parties – including the manager himself – believe a rolling contract is the best way forward as it will prevent a repeat of the endless discussion over Ferguson’s retirement that affected United’s performances in what was supposed to be the final season of his reign in 2001-02.

However, Magnier and McManus still reserve the right to take one of three options; either reporting their concerns to the Financial Services Authority, demand a seat on the United board, or force a potentially embarrassing emergency general meeting.

It only fuels the feeling the Irishmen are now applying pressure to the United board as the ongoing dispute between Ferguson and Magnier over the stud rights to record-breaking stallion Rock of Gibraltar intensifies.

So far, there has been no sign that Ferguson is willing to back down from his claim for half a share in the horse, even though there is apparently no written evidence to back him up.

For Gardner and chief executive David Gill, the whole episode is turning into a nightmare of monumental proportions and unless a resolution is found to that dispute, it is difficult to see how United can be restored to a stable footing.

In announcing their internal review, the club hoped to buy themselves a few precious months in which they could broker a deal between Ferguson and Magnier.

Instead, they will anxiously await Magnier and McManus’ next move as the club threatens to rip itself apart.