United boss Ferguson has regularly claimed the club have been "handicapped" this season as they bid to win a third league title and questioned the Premier League's insistence that the draw is random.

Ferguson's complaint stems from having to face all of last season's top 10 teams away from home in the first half of the campaign and also having found themselves on their travels after every Champions League game so far.

A statement from the governing body highlighted the fact clubs are given the opportunity to raise objections before the fixture list is released.

"The Premier League fixtures are put together through as random a process as possible," it said.

"The initial list is created by specialist software before going to the Fixtures Working Party, which is made up of representatives from the Premier League, Football League, FA, Premier League clubs and supporters.

"The police then approve it before it is sent to the clubs, at which point they can raise any objections they may have.

"There are various factors that go into the structuring of the fixture list - police requests and involvement in European or FIFA competitions for example - but the overriding factor is the luck of the draw."

Ramsden joined the Fixtures Working Party - which comprises representatives of clubs in general rather than individual teams - after this season's fixtures were drawn.

Ferguson said yesterday: "I have been saying for a few months we have been handicapped by the Premier League fixture list.

"They tell me it is not planned but I have my doubts.

"I am not saying what they do down there but next year we will be sending someone to see how it works I can assure you because I just don't understand how you can get the fixtures like that.''

(reopens)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels all four Champions League clubs should be treated equally when the domestic fixtures are compiled.

Speaking following today's FA Cup third-round win over Plymouth, he said: "We think he [Ferguson] has a case - and also that we have a case as well.

"If you look at the international fixtures plus the Champions League, there were 10 games and out of them, we played eight times away afterwards, and only two at home.

"Manchester United played one game at home, nine away. Chelsea played six games at home, and four away, Liverpool played eight times at home, and two times away.

"If you also check the time between the games, you will probably see we are also even more disadvantaged than the other clubs.

"The biggest disadvantage is not only in the Champions League, but also when you play after an international game.

"Some of your players are playing Wednesday night in Mexico and they cannot play for you on Saturday in an early game.

"I would think that a regular way to do it is that if you have 10 games, everybody plays five at home and five away.

"That you have some who play eight away and some who play eight at home, that is really not a fair competition, and explains a lot."

Wenger added: "Last season, United played a lot at home, which is why they did not complain."