they aren't everybody's favourite team.

And, despite his well-stocked trophy cabinet and a knighthood to boot, United boss Alex Ferguson probably has as many critics as he does admirers.

Reading excerpts from his much ballyhooed autobiography "Managing My Life'', which has caused such a stir in England in recent weeks, that's hardly surprising.

Ferguson's references to the United tour of Bermuda in December, 1997, which we detailed in a Royal Gazette story earlier in the week, contain sufficient inaccuracies and distortions to throw doubt on the entire book.

Either Fergie's memory has faded in the years since that infamous trip or, more likely, he cares to recall only that which suits his purposes.

For legal reasons, not too much more can be said about the alleged sex attack by Clayton Blackmore, whom Ferguson staunchly defends.

But talk to any police officer who was involved in the case, any reporter who covered what was at the time headline news not only in Bermuda but across Europe, or to any number of locals who were either in the nightclub on the eve of the alleged incident or familiar with those involved, and it's highly unlikely their version of events will concur with that of Ferguson's.

If, as Sir Alex contends, the United tour of Bermuda was "an unmitigated horror story'' it was so by virtue of their own doing.

His argument that Blackmore was the victim of a set-up is about as convincing as his version of the match against Somerset Trojans when, he claims, United goalkeeper Gary Walsh was kicked so viciously in the head that the striker in question broke his ankle. Those who watched the game will tell you that Everett Wellman's challenge on Walsh wasn't pretty. But the Somerset player certainly didn't break his ankle in the process.

Ferguson would also have us believe that it was a fortunate coincidence that led to United lawyer Maurice Watkins being conveniently on the Island to handle the Blackmore affair when the scandal broke.

Truth of the matter is, he wasn't. He hastily flew in the next day.

If details such as this are apparently distorted, one wonders what other `facts' Ferguson has chosen to fabricate.

Two of his closest confidants in recent years, Gordon Strachan (now with Coventry) and Brian Kidd (now with Blackburn) are among those who come under heavy criticism from the United Ayatollah.

But how much can be read into that character assassination? Soccer managers are notorious for accusing the media of taking their comments out of context or distorting facts. Occasionally, particularly when the English tabloids are involved, they may be right.

But on this latest evidence, I'd be inclined to believe the `gutter' press rather than the fanciful musings of Fergie.

*** It's difficult to defend the actions of top cricketer Clay Smith, and therefore dangerous to criticise the suspension which, for the second year in succession and for the same reasons, will rule him out of Bermuda's involvement in the Red Stripe Bowl in Jamaica next month.

But, like it or not, Bermuda will be a much weaker side in his absence.

As he demonstrated a couple of years ago, the St .David's skipper is among precious few Bermuda cricketers who can make runs against the cream of Caribbean bowlers.

If Bermuda are to compete at this level -- and so far we've yet to win a single match in the Red Stripe -- then we need players with Smith's ability.

His tendency to dispute umpires' decisions with which he doesn't agree shouldn't be condoned. But there have been much more severe incidents of indiscipline on the cricket field this past season which have gone unpunished.

And because of his high profile, one wonders whether Clay is sometimes singled out for more harsh treatment than he deserves.

Forbidding him from representing his country in a tournament in which, at his own admission, he desperately wanted to play, might teach him a lesson.

But we shouldn't be surprised if it drives him out of the sport altogether.

And regardless of his inexcusable temper tantrums, that would be a loss that cricket might ultimately regret.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON