Fergie facing a fight to the finish

It is impossible to divorce the football feud from the impending legal action between Ferguson and Magnier over the breeding rights to the stallion Rock Of Gibraltar. The horse, jointly owned by Magnier's wife Susan and Ferguson, has a stud value that could exceed £100m.

Ferguson paid nothing for his half-share of the horse, which has already sired its first foal, though he was registered as having a 50 per cent ownership.

Gardner had intended meeting Magnier at the Sandy Lane Hotel on Barbados, a luxury hotel the Irishman partly owns, to try to arbitrate between the intransigent heavyweights.

That meeting did not take place but a sit- down may now be imperative if the club are not to be undermined by subterfuge and counter-accusation. However, the Irish are more used to calling meetings than responding to them.

The fact is that Cubic Expression, the company formed by Magnier and McManus to buy Manchester United shares, now own 25.49 of the club and they clearly feel their investment is being jeopardised by what they perceive as nepotism in Ferguson's dealings. Sources close to the reclusive Magnier suggest he is not impressed by Gardner's apparent disinclination to investigate the club' s transfers.

It was in an effort to bring attention to their suspicions that the Coolmore Mafia, as Magnier and McManus are better known, leaked two letters they have sent to the plc board. The first, written on January 16, seeks answers to questions already posed publicly about the transfer of key players, highlighted by the purchase of goalkeeper Tim Howard from the United States in the summer.

In it, they state: 'What we cannot understand is the necessity for the relative secrecy in which agents conduct their role and the astonishing fees which have been charged to the company.'

Gardner gave what they clearly considered a less than satisfactory response, prompting a second, more aggressive letter last Wednesday, in which they say: 'Once again we invite you to respond providing proper explanations concerning the matters raised and we invite the board to reconsider its position.

'No further steps should be taken while these matters remain outstanding.'

Cubic Expression are asking Gardner to divulge all commissions paid to agents so that any links, direct or indirect, with Jason Ferguson's Elite Group can be scrutinised.

Representatives of United and Cubic Expression shared a conference call to try to sort one or two issues but these went unresolved, after which Magnier directed that all future dealings must go through lawyers.

Meanwhile, Ferguson's contract, said to be worth £4m a year, has become the focus of attention. If it is signed before transfer investigations are concluded, the most likely outcome will be Cubic Expression calling an extraordinary general meeting.

On the other hand, Jason Ferguson has been trying to force the board's hand on the matter of his father's new contract and is believed to have advised them that Sir Alex 'might not be available' if the delay is protracted.

This is a game of brinkmanship, since Magnier and McManus must be aware that replacing Ferguson could depress the club's share price.

It is a risk they appear prepared to take to release Ferguson's stranglehold on the club. They are believed to be using the services of industrial detectives Kroll to investigate Sir Alex's business dealings in what seems like a battle to the finish.