PUT YOUR PENS DOWN

Last updated : 06 September 2002 By Editor

United are aiming to stop players from writing a book while they are still
playing for the club. Managing director David Gill announced United's
intentions:

"We need to make it clear that we don't think it's appropriate for players to
publish a book while they're still playing for Manchester United,"

"We want them to concentrate on playing. We believe they can do other
commercial deals.

"David Beckham does Castrol and Pepsi, Roy Keane does Aer Lingus, that's
fine. A book is another issue."

And on Becks' book to be published next year

"You can't apply rules retrospectively. If he's signed a contract, we're not in a
position to deny him that opportunity," Gill added.

Gill also admitted that the club's lawyers did not look at the book before
publication, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's previous assertations that United had
vetted it.

"I'm sure the publisher's lawyers looked at it, his lawyers looked at it. Our in-
house lawyers did not look at it," he said.

However United will stand by their man. "It's going to go through the process
and clearly we will support Roy as a key player within Manchester United."