United chiefs want to close the book on autobiographies

By James Whelan

MANCHESTER UNITED do not want their players to publish any more books following Roy Keane’s controversial autobiography.

“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,” David Gill, a director of the club said yesterday, after

signing a merchandise deal with a Thai department store.

“We want them to concentrate on playing,” Gill said.

“We believe they can do other commercial deals. (David) Beckham’s here doing Castrol and Pepsi, Roy Keane does Aer Lingus, that’s fine. A book is another issue.”

But Gill said the club would not stop the publication of Beckham’s planned autobiography. “You can’t apply rules retrospectively. If he’s signed a contract, we’re not in a position to deny him that

opportunity,” he said.

The English Football Association charged Keane with two counts of bringing the game into disrepute on Wednesday.

They related to an incident, detailed in his autobiography, involving Manchester City’s Alf Inge Haaland during a Premiership match in April, 2001. The 31-year old former Ireland captain is quoted as saying he deliberately fouled Haaland, with whom he had a long-running feud, during the game.

Gill said United’s lawyers had not seen Keane’s book before it was published, but added that the club would support its captain if he faced legal action. United manager Alex Ferguson had said previously that the club vetted Keane’s book before publication.

“I’m sure obviously the publisher’s lawyers looked at it, his lawyers looked at it. Manchester United, our in-house lawyers did not look at it,” Gill said.

“It’s going to go through the process and clearly we will support Roy as a key player within Manchester United.”

Meanwhile Rio Ferdinand dismisses the notion that Keane, who has accused his team-mates of being more interested in their cars, houses and watches than winning games, has created a dressing room split.

“As far as I can see there is no animosity going on in the dressing room at United. Everything is thoroughly professional at training and at games. Roy likes to say his piece on the field to everybody within earshot but that’s fine. You need certain characters like that to give everyone a jolt.”