THE ball is back in Sir Alex Ferguson's court in the bitter feud with United's largest shareholder John Magnier over stud fees for Rock of Gibraltar.

The Irish racing tycoon has been compelled to file a motion in the Dublin High Court, which will be heard on February 16, demanding the Reds' manager's legal team in Ireland detail their case against Magnier.

Ferguson's barrister, Colm Allen, has been given two extensions after initially requesting the information in December.

The second 10-day extension expired last Friday and Magnier lost patience with Ferguson and went to the High Court.

Fergie's case would collapse if the motion is granted and he doesn't comply but all indications are that Fergie's legal team are expected to agree to the latest demand and provide the full details of the case.

The stalling of the information has further angered the United boss's Irish foes and makes a peace deal even more unlikely.

Support

Despite the crisis enveloping Ferguson and the club the Reds' dressing room are fully behind their boss and say that the 62-year-old is successfully shielding his squad from the row.

Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who delayed the signing of his own contract until the Scot secured his Old Trafford future last week says, "It is not a worry to us. We know what we have to do and that is to perform on the pitch.

"As a United player you get used to headlines in the paper and things going on outside of the football on the pitch. There is nothing you can do about it.

"We just concentrate on the football and that is what the manager is doing.

"There are no signs at all that he is affected by all this that is going on. That is why he has been in his job for so long because he deals with this kind of situation without letting it affect the dressing room."

Even if the legal row over the Rock of Gibraltar is settled it will not halt Magnier's pursuit of United over the way the Old Trafford business is run.

The Coolmore camp insist that no intermediaries will be used to bring the two factions together and United's desire to meet them face-to-face will no longer be considered after initial dialogue failed.