Football managers and pundits may insist the Premiership title battle is not over until the fat lady sings, but for many punters the rest of the campaign does not matter a jot now the northern bookmaker has sung.
If you backed Manchester United for the championship in any of the 250 branches of Fred Done bookmakers, you can collect your money now.
It is the third time in the last four seasons that lifelong Reds fanatic Done has declared Sir Alex Ferguson's men champions before the final fixture but it is by far the earliest.
"As soon as I heard Arsenal had lost at Charlton I told my shop managers to pay out on United," said Done. "I wanted to break my record for the earliest ever payout and after watching the boys destroy West Ham later that day I have absolutely no worries about being caught out again like I was when
Arsenal came from nowhere to win it three years ago.
"In fact, I will drop my strides in the window of Marks and Spencer if United lose from this position. They are playing some fantastic stuff right now.
"I have been watching United for 50 years and while I have a soft spot for the Babes, it is hard to think of a better side than the current one."
Done has a special offer for early risers this morning. He will offer United at evens for the 2001-02 title - "but not to a lot".
Hills are laying 5-4 that the Old Trafford aces win the title by a record 19 or more points, 2-1 that they score 100 or more league goals and
16-1 that they win the treble again.
Another bookmaker apart from Hills has finally woken up to the fact that the without United market might actually have some mileage.
Arsenal, after two poor performances either side of the new year, can be backed at 10-11 with Coral. by Racing Post 03/01/2001 BACK TO TOP ^ |
