From The Mirror:
He has all the trappings of wealth. With a £600,000 home, £30,000 Cherokee jeep and designer suits, he looks like a businessman who is going places.Jason Ferguson is living proof that it helps if you have an influential father.
In his case, dad is Manchester United's legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
And next week, he will march into the offices of Manchester United plc and demand a new £3million contract on behalf of his father to stay on for a further two years as manager.
As one senior club insider said: "Jason is only involved because of who he is, rather than his ability to negotiate. He doesn't do himself or Sir Alex any favours by making unreasonable demands."
A respected football figure added: "Everybody recognises that there is a unique link between Elite and Manchester United.
"It is astonishing that such a fledgling company has been closely linked to such major deals."
Now a Sunday Mirror investigation into Elite - set up just under two years ago - can reveal how Ferguson has:
Been closely involved in Manchester United transfers worth £50million. Secured a contract to be exclusive supplier of signed club shirts. Established a corporate hospitality business offering executives tickets for Manchester United matches. Been at the centre of a row over the transfer of England star Jonathan Greening from Old Trafford when Sir Alex allegedly said he would "rot in the reserves" unless he joined Elite.
Elite have fallen foul of respected football agents SFX, who represent David Beckham and Michael Owen and claim that Elite had no rights to sell Beckham merchandise.
They have also been angered by claims in Manchester that Beckham is poised to switch agents and join Elite.
The activities of Elite first came to the attention of the United board in August 2001 when they were closely involved in the £16million transfer of Dutch star Jaap Stam from Man U to Italian side Lazio.
At a Press conference held to announce the deal Stam thanked controversial agent Mike Morris, a tax exile who lives in Monaco but has the use of Elite's offices and staff. The thanks mystified many because Stam's agent is Dutchman Henk van Ginkel.
Elite also played a part in Argentinian Juan Veron's record-breaking £28million move to United from Lazio in 2001.
It played a key role in the £2.5million move of goalkeeper Roy Carroll from Wigan Athletic to United, and the transfer of United's French defender Laurent Blanc, who joined the club from Italian side Inter Milan in 2001. In addition L'Attitude, the agents Jason worked for before founding Elite, received £25,000 in 2000 for the transfer of goalkeeper Massimo Taibi from United to Reggiana.
And now it has been claimed that former United midfield star Jonathan Greening was told by Sir Alex Ferguson that he would "rot in the reserves" if he did not join forces with Elite.
It was said that it was not until Greening's agent Mel Stein threatened to take legal action against Sir Alex Ferguson that he allowed Greening to leave the club.
The relationship between Morris and Elite came under fresh scrutiny last month when the Sunday Mirror revealed that Sunderland player David Bellion had been unsettled by approaches from United via Jason.
Last night a Manchester United spokesman refused to answer questions about the club's relationship with Elite.
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