Betfred refunds £200k worth of bets backing Manchester United to retain title

Bookmakers Betfred will refund all of the punters who backed Manchester United to retain the Premier League title this season.

Owner Fred Done, who is a United supporter, has revealed that it will cost him £200,000 to make the gesture with nine league games left to play.

Done made the decision after the Red Devils succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

"These loyal fans never had a chance of winning with United," Done told the Manchester Evening News. "This season the Reds have been useless, hopeless and meaningless.

"Anyone who has a bet on United winning the title need only take their slip to any shop and I will refund every penny."

The North-West outfit are 12 points adrift of a Champions League spot in the table.