LONDON - Sir Alex Ferguson has rubbished a report that he is ready to support the "Red Knights" consortium that is planning a bid to take over Manchester United.

LONDON - Sir Alex Ferguson has rubbished a report that he is ready to support the "Red Knights" consortium that is planning a bid to take over Manchester United.

A report in yesterday's Observer newspaper suggested Ferguson would lend his backing to the group of wealthy United fans as they put together a potential buyout of the Glazer family, while there were suggestions the United manager would be prepared to invest his own money in the club if the bid were to succeed.

Thousands of United fans, unhappy with the Glazers over the club's massive debts, have joined the green-and-gold protest against the Americans by wearing the colours of Newton Heath, the club that predated United.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust, the chief opponents of the present Glazer regime, have reported a massive surge in membership over the past few weeks.

They now claim to have more than 10000 supporters registered - fuelled partly by the Red Knights, a group of leading financiers who are looking to raise more than £1billion (R11,1billion) to seize control at Old Trafford.

But Ferguson, rejected any supposed involvement in the takeover as he said: "It's absolute rubbish. There's not an ounce of truth in it."

A United spokesperson echoed Ferguson's denial and said: "The Glazer family and the manager enjoy 100percent trust in each other."

United chief execu-tive David Gill last week insisted the Glazers had no wish to sell. - Sapa-AFP