Man U's legal costs soaring

CONTROVERSIAL Manchester United director Maurice Watkins' law firm was paid £568,000 by the club last year. The huge payout will add to pressure on Watkins as uncertainty about United's future ownership continues.

The club admitted last week that it had held preliminary talks with American sports mogul Malcolm Glazer about a possible offer, first revealed in Financial Mail on Sunday.

Though Glazer failed to persuade Irish racing tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus to sell their 29% stake, he raised the stakes on Friday when he spent £45m increasing his shareholding to 25.5%.

Fans paint-bombed Watkins' car this month. They were angry that he had earlier sold a million shares to Glazer.

The solicitor has also been targeted by Magnier and McManus. They questioned his independence and the potential conflict of interest he faced in representing both United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson in legal proceedings.

The latest fees, detailed in United's annual report, were paid in a year when Watkins represented United's defender Rio Ferdinand after he failed to take a drugs test. But Watkins only succeeded in getting the player's ban increased from three months to eight.

Analysis by Financial Mail shows that United has paid his Manchester law firm, James Chapman & Co, £2.2m over the past five years.

Like Glazer, both Magnier and McManus insist that they are long-term investors, though the Irish have not sought representation on the United board.

Shares in United closed at 285p on Friday, valuing the club at almost £750m.