Manchester United have submitted their response to the 99 questions posed by the club’s largest shareholders about recent transfers at Old Trafford.

The seven page document arrived at the solicitors acting for John Magnier and JP McManus and the Irish billionaires were last night considering its contents in their winter retreat in Barbados.

United’s directors hope the document will prosatisfy the club’s biggest shareholders but are aware that Magnier and McManus could still call for an emergency general meeting of the United board.

Magnier and McManus who, through their investment company Cubic Expression, own 25.49% of the club could also report any concerns to the Financial Services Authority.

The latest chapter in an increasingly acrimonious dispute centres on transfer deals and corporate governance which the Irish duo concerned that United’s conduct fell “short of best practice”.

Yesterday, Magnier’s lawyers requested tapes of manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s press conference last Friday. Ferguson spoke of how his agent son Jason had called in the police after having his dustbins searched. Magnier is understood to be investigating whether Ferguson’s comments could be regarded as defamatory.