City warned over free-spending policy as Bernstein bows out

MANCHESTER CITY legend Peter Barnes has warned the Maine Road outfit not to follow Leeds’ free-spending ways after the shock departure of chairman David Bernstein.

Bernstein elected to jump ship ahead of yesterday’s emergency board meeting rather than face a vote of no-confidence after a vicious behind-the-scenes battle which erupted into open warfare late last week when managing director Chris Bird declared his intention to quit.

Bird and Bernstein had been at loggerheads since the autumn when the chairman redefined management structures within the club, handing some of Bird’s responsibilities to fellow director Alistair Mackintosh.