The sharp rise in the value of Manchester United's shares after David Moyes was sacked was wiped out in the space of an hour when the New York Stock Exchange opened for trading on Wednesday.

United's shares rose to 18.78 US dollars, its highest point since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement last May, at close of trading on Tuesday.

But within an hour of trading reopening the share value had experienced a slump and was down 6.8 per cent to 17.50 dollars.