Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has furiously denied reports that he has thrown his support behind the Red Knights' bid to buy the club and oust the Glazers.

GettyImagesSir Alex Ferguson: Not interested in bid

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The Observer reports that senior city financiers associated with the Red Knights consortium claim that Ferguson would be willing to add his own money to the controversial buyout.

"Alex Ferguson is not only supportive of the bid but would be prepared, if successful, to back it," a source told the newspaper. The insider also claimed it would be a "killer blow" for the American Glazer family who bought the club in 2005 and who are now facing massive protests from fans because of the club's debts.

However, Ferguson furiously denied that he was supporting the takeover. "It's absolute rubbish. Not an ounce of truth in it," he said.

A United spokesman backed up Ferguson's words, claiming: "The Glazer family and the manager enjoy 100% trust in each other.''

The Red Knights are putting together a bid which could see Manchester United being sold for £1.2bn, although the Glazers insist the club, now saddled with debts of £716 million, is not for sale.

Another senior City figure close to the consortium said: "We all know we have his [Ferguson's] support, that he likes the people involved, but we can't embarrass him."

An official spokesman for the Red Knights refused to discuss Ferguson's position