Neville rejects United testimonial offer

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Gary Neville has taken the unprecedented step of rejecting a testimonial to mark his 10 years at the club.

The 27-year-old is a month short of spending a decade in the Old Trafford first team picture, but after consultation with his family has decided any game to mark the occasion will take place at the end of his career.

Neville has not even decided yet whether that will happen, but if it does, has already pledged to use much of the money to build a facility for the club’s supporters to use on matchdays.

‘‘At this moment in time we do not believe Gary should have a testimonial,’’ his father Neville told GMR. ‘‘Testimonials should come at the end of a player’s career, not in the middle.

‘‘Hopefully Gary has another few years left yet and we will look at the situation again when that time comes.’’

Testimonials were originally set up to reward long service and give players the chance of some financial security ahead of retirement.

However, in the days of multi-million pound contracts, they have been attracting an increasing amount of controversy.

Neville is not the only United player to become eligible for a testimonial this season.

England duo David Beckham and Nicky Butt also celebrate 10 years in the United side this autumn but it is not yet known whether they will take up their testimonial offer.