Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson put aside the fervent rivalry that exists between the city's two clubs to advise his Manchester City counterpart Joe Royle to sign Shawn Goater, it has been revealed.

The news came as further details emerged about the 400,000 transfer of the Bermudian striker which has stunned fans of his former club, Bristol City.

Royle, who was known to rate Goater before he took over the reigns at First Division City recently, contacted his good pal Ferguson for a final appraisal of the 28-year-old before putting in a first bid for him on Wednesday night.

Ferguson informed Royle, with whom he has been great friends since Royle's days as boss of Greater Manchester side Oldham Athletic in the early 1990s, that Goater would be the ideal man to help City, third from bottom in the First Division, stave off relegation.

Goater, who notched 19 goals for Bristol City this season to take the club to the brink of promotion from the Second Division, started his career at Old Trafford after being spotted by Ferguson during United's pre-season tour to the Island.

Although he was given a two-year contract by Ferguson, he failed to make the grade at United and had spells at Rotherham and Notts County before finding his way back to Manchester via Bristol.

Royle's first bid for the player, who would have been available for nothing in the summer under the Bosman ruling, was made on Wednesday night, 24 hours before the UK transfer deadline.

But his initial 100,000 offer was turned down flat by Bristol City vice-chairman John Laycock, filling in for chairman Scott Davidson, holidaying in Florida.

On Thursday morning Royle upped his bid but that too was rejected. Finally he went back with an offer of 400,000 and a clause which promised further payments based on appearances and City's survival. Laycock accepted without apparently consulting Bristol manager John Ward.

The City boss, who saved Premier League Everton from relegation in 1994-95 before leading them to FA Cup success later that season, said yesterday: "The Goater deal looked to be off on Wednesday night when I got a call as I was watching our reserves.

"On Thursday morning it was not exactly dead, but in a coma.'' It wasn't until 4.30 p.m. (GMT) -- half an hour before the deadline expired -- that the contract was finally signed, sealed and delivered, by fax.

Royle, who also signed West Ham midfielder Ian Bishop on a free transfer, added: "It's been one of the busiest weeks I've ever known, but I've got what I wanted. Hopefully Shawn will get us the goals we've been missing.'' Goater, for his part, was keen to show the footballing world of his improvement since he was rejected by United. He said: "When I was at United I had come from a very warm climate and it took me time to adjust.

"But it is now eight years since I left Old Trafford and I now want to be winning trophies and chasing promotion with a big club like City.

"But first things first, we need to avoid the drop.'' Goater is expected to make his debut for City at Bradford today as his new club start a series of seven games which will decide their fate.

An estimated 4,000 City fans are planning to make the trip across the Pennines for the match in anticipation of great things from the Bermudian.

Whatever the outcome, Goater is sure of an early return to Bristol's Ashton Gate home: Manchester City have agreed to play a pre-season friendly there with the receipts going into the Bristol coffers.