BOB MURRAY renewed his war of words with Manchester United over David Bellion yesterday and revealed the Frenchman was offered to Arsenal in October behind Sunderland's back.

As Murray vowed to do everything in his power to stop the debt-ridden club from going into administration, the Sunderland chairman repeated his disgust at United's alleged behaviour regarding Bellion.

The 20-year-old will leave Sunderland when his contract expires this summer, sparking a battle for his services involving United, Liverpool and Paris St Germain among others.

Murray branded United "despicable and unprofessional" in January when he claimed they had made an illegal approach for Bellion - whose transfer will be investigated by a Premier League tribunal.

And after discovering on Sunday that Arsenal were given the opportunity to sign Bellion by the player's agent, he is seething.

Murray said: "I think David is going to Manchester United. What makes me think that? Other people in the game are telling me that.

"Arsenal told me on Sunday they were offered Bellion in October by his agent, and I think he would love to go to Arsenal because he's French.

"That statement by Arsenal will be used in the tribunal because they've volunteered to give us it. Manchester United have got from now until the tribunal to put things right.

"One day, Manchester United will need me or Sunderland for something. Clubs, certainly the world's largest, should not do what purportedly has happened.

"But we know David was offered to Arsenal and Liverpool, and Liverpool are very interested in him."

Murray is desperate to ensure Sunderland do not follow Leicester City, Derby County and Ipswich Town - the three clubs relegated from the Premiership last season - into administration.

The mass cull of Stadium of Light staff has alleviated Sunderland's £26.6m debts and Murray will give up his company car later this year, though he ruled out asking players to take a wage cut.

The expected departure of their top names will also help the club start again from scratch, but Murray acknowledges tough times lie ahead.

He said: "I'm determined that the club will not go into administration or receivership.

"That's why I'm driven to do the things I'm doing with the support of everybody that's left at the club to ensure we start the season with a major transformation of the squad.

"Our debts are substantial but we can manage the business. What we can't do is get people to lend us money any more because of what's happening in the industry.

"John Fickling and I have given up our salaries from April 1; the club is taking my car away from September.

"We haven't had a dividend in the last two years, so we're not doing it for money.

"We've closed shops because they're losing money and we've put all our residential property up for sale.

"Directorships are leaving, a raft of middle management has gone and we've dismissed all our City advisors on the Stock Exchange because we can't justify them.

"It's now time to look towards the playing staff, but I don't think we could do what Blackpool did and pay them £90 a week over the summer.

"I don't think we can turn around to a journeyman pro who really wants to play for Sunderland and treat him like that.

"We're looking for players to stay with us, and for them to be happy here in the North-East and proud to play at this club."

There were sporadic chants of "Murray out" from angry Sunderland fans at the end of Sunday's dismal defeat by Arsenal, but the chairman will not countenance talk of resigning.

He also bristles at criticism of his absence from the club last month, when he was on a Caribbean cruise on the day Sunderland's relegation was sealed.

"There's never been a moment while I've been here that I've never needed it," he said.

"I've had the feel bad factor for quite a long time now; it gets to you. I still really can't come to terms with what's happened.

"To my absolute astonishment, very able managers with records, a vast salary bill and a vast transfer fund have failed collectively.

"Bolton stayed up with loan players; I spent £22m. They certainly don't have the seventh highest wage bill.

"With the facilities, crowds and resources at Sunderland, the club should finish fourth-bottom in the Premiership at the worst.

"But I think the only thing that's important now is the future and the financial wellbeing of this club.

"I've been working for the last two or three months on future things, and my whole week this week is taken up with meetings with agents.

"Hugh Roberts and John Fickling might have been more visual than me, but that doesn't mean I've not been fully focused.

"I don't have any holidays booked in the summer, and the cruise was something that was organised a year in advance. I was away for two weeks."

Read more about Sunderland here.