Gill: Row has affected United

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has admitted that Alex Ferguson’s dispute with John Magnier is now starting to affect the club.

After spending weeks suffering what he believes to be a smear campaign against him and his son Jason, Ferguson launched a vigorous counter-attack yesterday, lashing out at the “incomprehensible” suggestion that he had abused his position as United boss.

Having defended his reputation in such aggressive fashion, as well as revealing Jason had been forced to call in the police amid allegations that his mail was being stolen, there appears to be no surrender on the horizon from Ferguson over his legal dispute with Magnier concerning the record-breaking stallion Rock of Gibraltar.

Sources in Ireland suggest Magnier is even more determined to win that particular fight than he is to get answers to the 99 questions he landed at the door of United chairman Sir Roy Gardner earlier this week, so the prospect of a damaging court battle appears inevitable.

When he took out the case, which concerns the stud rights to ‘the Rock’, Ferguson was convinced it would not interfere with the running of United.

But, after a seven-day “media frenzy” Gill now knows such a situation is impossible, although he insisted he has no intention of trying to negotiate a settlement.

“The matter is affecting Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson recognises that,” Gill told MUTV.

“If the case came to a speedy resolution it would be in the best interests of all concerned but that is something for Sir Alex and Mr Magnier.

“Our job is to take a step back from the media frenzy and remember what we have here. Manchester United is the most successful club in England, both on and off the pitch, and it doesn’t happen by luck.

“We had a turnover of £170m (€248.5m) last year and made an operating profit of £50m (€73m). The vast majority of football clubs in the world would give their right arms for figures like that.

“We have achieved that situation by having fantastic employees in every facet of the club, including Alex Ferguson.

“It may look easy from the outside but on the inside we know how incredibly hard it is.”

Gill reaffirmed his belief that some of Magnier’s queries had been addressed by the launch of an internal inquiry to investigate all United’s recent transfer dealings.

He insisted the club’s policy was in line with Premier League guidelines but said if the review, to be carried out by finance director Nick Humby, unearthed any unforeseen problems, changes would be made immediately.

In the meantime, he emphasised the importance of Ferguson to the Old Trafford club.

Although the Scot this week signed a rolling one-year contract to extend his stay beyond 2005, his position has been called into question as Magnier’s calls for an independent audit of the club’s transfers grew louder.

Yet Gill only needed to point to the negotiations concluded on Thursday with Ruud van Nistelrooy over his five-year deal to illustrate why Ferguson remains such a vital presence.

“When we sat down with Ruud one of the key factors in his deliberations was what was happening with the manager and whether he was extending his contract,” said Gill.

Ferguson is guaranteed a hero’s reception from a capacity Old Trafford crowd today when United tackle Southampton.

The gesture will be appreciated by a man whose devotion to the United cause and the success he has brought the club since his arrival in 1986 has earned him a loyalty that will not be broken no matter what mud is slung at him.

“I have had a great bond with the supporters down the years,” he said.

“They have proved themselves beyond measure and at times like this I depend on them.”