FERGIE'S TARTAN ARMY

In a move away from the traditional plain red shirts, the new top has an unusual checked print with black lines and a black V neck. Man ­United fan Dave Roberts, 39, said: “The design is awful. It is like one of those gaudy, revolting shirts from the 1990s. I don’t know why they have changed the style away from the plain red shirts.

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“It is nearly as bad as the infamous grey kit. The players won’t be able to see each other in these shirts. They should have kept it simple with the plain red design.

“They are ­obviously just changing it to make money and get the fans to buy it. But I actually don’t think the fans will be ­rushing out to the shops, it won’t go down as a Man United classic.”

It is understood the new kit will be unveiled at the end of May, earlier than the normal launch date because of the Euro 2012 tournament and the Olympics.

Fans have left a string of negative comments about the new strip on the Man United fanzine Red Issue’s website, describing it as “horrible” and “abhorrent”. One said: “It looks like a school dinner-lady’s outfit.”

While fans leaving messages on United’s official Facebook page have compared it to a tablecloth or a tea towel. One wrote that it looks like ‘something Rupert the Bear would wear’.

A club spokesman said: ‘It’s historical, unusual and a bit different. Gingham was invented in Manchester going back to when it was known for its cotton mills.’

The kit, designed by Nike, carries the slogan: Forged in Industry, Made of Manchester.

They left out the 'Made in India' part though.