United no more

MANCHESTER UNITED’s claims that Roy Keane left Old Trafford yesterday “by mutual consent” have been greeted with widespread scepticism.

As football absorbed the enormity of Keane’s acrimonious departure from United after more than 12 years, it has emerged that funding a midfield replacement for Keane is central to the decision not to extend the Corkman’s £100,000-a-week contract.

The club’s US owners are insisting that manager Alex Ferguson could only bring in a similarly paid superstar if he was prepared to let his captain leave the club and lighten the wage bill.