Wednesday and United shrug off TV claims as FA launches takeover probe

The undercover investigation, which was screened on Monday night, showed a group posing as Indian and Chinese businessmen being offered ownership of Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday in March by Thai-based football investment fund London Nominees.

Former Blades manager Bryan Robson was seen offering advice on how to circumvent FA rules banning ownership of more than one football club.

Blades director Scott McCabe was photographed with the investment fund’s representative Joe Sim at Bramall Lane.

Both clubs shrugged off the controversy yesterday but Robson’s current role as a global ambassador for his former club Manchester United is thought to be under review.

A Blades spokesman said: “Our owners, as good custodians of the Blades, would always insist that any potential sale of the club would be the subject of full due diligence checks. They are as concerned as anyone about the concealment of football club ownership and the issues of dual ownership.

“The McCabe family have a great love and affection for the Blades and will always have the long-term interests of the club at heart.”

A spokesman for the Hillsborough club, meanwhile, described the content of the programme as ‘irrelevant’ and stressed that the club was now in the hands of a new owner, Milan Mandaric.