MANCHESTER United have been warned to watch their backs by Sale chief executive Niels de Vos, who believes fans are becoming disenchanted with football and turning to rugby union as a genuine alternative.

Sale have sold out their Boxing Day Guinness Premiership clash with Northampton in record time and de Vos is convinced that Manchester can no longer be considered just a football city now the rugby revolution at Edgeley Park is gathering pace.

The Sharks, who have agreed new contracts with Scotland captain Jason White and French hooker Sebastian Bruno, top the Premiership and are set to be installed as No. 1 seeds for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

"People are now starting to realise that Manchester is about more than just football," said De Vos.

"Sharks are now the No. 2-ranked team in Europe, and are favourites to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup as number one seeds - something our footballing neighbours have failed to do this season.

"As the games get bigger and the Sharks get closer to winning the big prizes, the interest levels will certainly continue to go up because the sporting public in the North-West enjoys nothing better than success at the highest level.

"I believe that rugby is starting benefit from spectators becoming disenchanted with football.

"Our sport is affordable, family orientated and inclusive - and the quality of sport is right up there, with the best players in the world competing every week. Sharks boast 16 full internationals including six British Lions, led by superstars of the world game like Jason Robinson, Sebastien Chabal, Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto."

The Boxing Day game against Northampton has become the fastest-selling match in Sale's history and will be the club's fifth 10,000-plus attendance in seven home Premiership and European games this season.

"This is a clear demonstration of the demand that now exists to watch Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park," said de Vos.

"We are not in a traditional rugby town and have had to work hard promoting our success.

"Our crowds have been growing at 20 per cent a year since we moved to Edgeley Park. We can now sustain this level of support week in, week out and that is essential if we are to continue to invest in the success of the team."

Bruno has signed a two-year contract and White committed himself to the club until 2009, less than a week after his back-row colleagues Chabal and Magnus Lund both agreed new deals to the delight of director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre.

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