United board back Ferguson

Manchester United’s under-pressure board has fired a warning shot at John Magnier (pictured) and JP McManus by declaring: “We are lucky to have Sir 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 agreed today, 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.

They remain unhappy at United’s failure to instigate an independent audit of all the club’s recent transfer dealings or answer any of the 63 separate questions posed to chairman Sir Roy Gardner.

While sources in Ireland continue to insist the recent agitation is nothing to do with Magnier’s legal dispute with Ferguson over record-breaking stallion Rock of Gibraltar, the feeling within the United camp is exactly the opposite.

And, after months of trying to hold the middle ground on the issue, Gardner has now come out fighting publicly on Ferguson’s behalf.

“Sir Alex Ferguson is already established as one of the greatest football managers of all time,” he said.

“We are very lucky to have had his services for the last 17 years during which time he has been personally responsible for delivering unprecedented and unrivalled success to this club.

“We have every faith in him to carry on doing a great job for Manchester United.

“I have never worked with a man with so much energy and conviction and who commands so much respect from both footballers and from those who help run football across the world.

“I am personally delighted and proud that he has committed himself to our club for the future.”

By making such a clear and authoritative statement, Gardner has left Magnier and McManus in no doubt that, whatever their motives, he will not countenance any effort to remove Ferguson from his post.

In itself, it may not be enough to save the Scot, especially as a more likely political move would be for the Irish duo to call an emergency general meeting at which they could effectively get rid of the entire board with a successful vote of no confidence, leaving Ferguson completely isolated.

What it has done though is rally all the forces of United – board, shareholders, players and fans – behind their long-serving manager and against Magnier and McManus, who through their Cubic Expression Company, own over 25% of the club.

United’s decision not to host a press conference to confirm Ferguson’s new contract saved them some potentially embarrassing questions over the external pressures being placed upon them.

The announcement earlier this week that finance director Nick Humby would lead a ’thorough internal review’ of all United’s recent transfer dealings did little to placate Magnier or McManus, who question the considerable amounts of money that have been paid to agents.

United confirmed last Friday that they had paid out £750,000 (€1.1m) to middle men in the £12.825m (€18.7m) transfer that saw Louis Saha arrive from Fulham, an amazing figure considering the French striker had already expressed his desire to join the Old Trafford outfit.

Summer deals involving Tim Howard, Kleberson, David Bellion and Cristiano Ronaldo have also been questioned in recent days, ironically the men Ferguson brought in to inject fresh impetus into an ageing side following their eighth Premiership title triumph last May.

In agreeing the new rolling contract, both the United board and Ferguson were anxious to ensure there was no repeat of the situation that existed during the barren 2001-02 campaign, which was supposed to be the Scot’s last.

Ferguson felt his team’s performances were adversely affected by the belief among his squad that he was leaving and the almost-constant speculation over who would succeed him.

Having since claimed the dramatic U-turn he made in January 2002 was ’the best decision of his life’, Ferguson has now vowed to continue the unprecedented success he has brought to the club since succeeding Ron Atkinson in November 1986.

“I’m very happy with the new contractual arrangements,” he said.

“It gives me a strong focus on the short-term challenges in the new season ahead as well as the long-term freedom to look to improve our current squad and to win trophies both domestically and in Europe.

“I believe we have a very strong squad with a nucleus of young and talented players as well as excellent prospects in our own Academy and that will give us an excellent foundation for success over future years.”

Pointedly, Ferguson used today’s announcement to express his gratitude for the backing of the current Old Trafford hierarchy, especially chief executive David Gill.

“The Board, and in particular, David Gill have demonstrated their confidence in me and support for my decision-making at every level,” said Ferguson.

“I am enjoying the job more than ever before and I hope I can reward that confidence on the pitch.”