The Irish race horse millionaires have increased their shares in the company to 28.89 percent – just a little over one percent off the 29.9 percent holding which would trigger the requirement to offer to buy out other shareholders, as per stock exchange rules.
It is understood the duo, through their Cubic Expression company, bought shares from John de Mol, the media millionaire.
Meanwhile, reports in the UK press today suggest Malcolm Glazer, the owner of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a shareholder in United, may be planning his own takeover plans.
Many will suggest this underlines once and for all the duos plans for a takeover – a claim the pair have constantly denied.
The move will add further fuel to a fire already raging between the two and the club manager, Alex Ferguson.
After falling out over the stud rights of Rock of Gibraltar, a successful horse the trio jointly owned, Magnier and McManus have launched a very public crusade against Ferguson, demanding a probe into transfer sales over recent years and objecting to Ferguson’s new contract terms.
The smart money appears to be on Magnier and McManus not preparing a takeover, but positioning themselves to make a sizeable profit if the likes of Glazer, or anyone else, moves on the club.
