Contract talks for Irwin - March 7, 2001
Just when veteran Irish defender Denis Irwin was resigning himself to leaving Old Trafford, Manchester United have announced that contract talks with the player are imminent!
Cork-born Irwin announced on Monday that he was to start looking for a new club after failing to tie United down to negotiations on a new deal. Manager Alex Ferguson had publicly called for Irwin and fellow-veteran Teddy Sheringham to be awarded new contracts - but the Old Trafford plc board seemed to be waiting to install a new manager before extending the players' employment.
But now chief executive Peter Kenyon inists: "There is no suggestion we won't be offering either of them a new deal.
"We will be talking with Denis. There is nothing sinister about it. We have just both got to find the time to sit down and start. The stories that there is stalling going on are certainly not right."
"We are aware that both Denis and Teddy's contracts are up and we'll have to deal with those before the end of the season," Kenyon continued. "We will be sitting down with both of them with a view to both continuing at the club."
Irwin joined United from Oldham in 1990 and was awarded a testimonial last season. Last season too, he retired from international football in order to extend his club career.