Manchester United supporters have pleaded with Irish businessmen John Magnier and JP McManus to make their 10.37 per cent stake in Manchester United available to the fans first, should they decide to sell.
Shares in the Old Trafford outfit fell by 4 per cent during early trading today as reports circulated that Magnier and McManus were preparing to offload their shareholding following an alleged rift with Sir Alex Ferguson over the Stg£29.3million purchase of Rio Ferdinand last summer.
It seems an unlikely reason for making such a decision given the duo, through their Cubic Expression investment company, continued to increase their stake in the Premiership champions long after Ferdinand had completed his move from Leeds.
A more realistic argument would be the recent 40 per cent rise in United's share Price amid talk that the club could be taken over completely, although racing Tycoons Magnier and McManus were thought to be one of the parties interested in such a move.
Oliver Houston, spokesman for Shareholders United (SU), the organisation set up to oppose BSkyB's takeover bid in 1999, does not think a share sale is imminent but called on the Irish duo to look towards the fans rather than pure profit if they are intent on relinquishing their interest.
"If they are going to sell I would urge them to think of the long-term interests of the club rather than just pure profit," he said.
SU have never been as opposed to the interest of Magnier and McManus as they were to BSkyB, partly because the Irish pair have previously spoken of their desire to take the club off the market and create the kind of supporters trust which SU would welcome.