Sir Alex Ferguson denies claims over influencing referees

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has refuted suggestions that he influenced referees during his time at the club.

Mark Halsey has claimed in his book to have a good relationship with Ferguson and said the pair exchanged text messages.

This has led to some accusing Ferguson of befriending the referee in a bid to win favourable decisions during matches, but he has denied these claims.

"Obviously there is an Alex Ferguson element in his book, he thought was important," he told MUTV.

"Most of the managers, particularly in the North-West supported him, and lot of players by the way, when he had the cancer, him and his wife, it was a terrible period for the lad and quite rightly the football fraternity got behind him and supported him.

"The laughable part for me was how I influenced the refereeing fraternity."

Ferguson stepped down as manager of Manchester United last season after 26 years in charge.