Fergie issues first Carroll contract warning

Alex Ferguson has questioned the wisdom of Roy Carroll delaying a decision about whether to sign an extension to his Manchester United contract.

The Northern Ireland international’s current deal expires in the summer and while the Red Devils have put a new deal to him, the goalkeeper has yet to decide whether he wishes to accept it or not.

Carroll, who has missed only Carling Cup ties in a 14-match run in the Red Devils line-up since replacing Tim Howard in September, has refused to go public with the reasons for his reluctance to extend his three-and-a-half year stay at Old Trafford, but the belief is he is holding out for a better deal.

There must be a doubt over whether the extra cash will be forthcoming as United chief executive David Gill has already warned his senior stars not to expect massive rises in the future as the game enters more austere times.

And Ferguson, who has been linked with a move for Fulham’s Edwin van der Sar and Middlesbrough stopper Mark Schwarzer, wonders whether Carroll, is being advised properly.

“It is one of those situations that is hard to understand,” Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.

“Players get advice from people but whether it is the best advice, I don’t know. But the thing is if he walks through that door there are not many Manchester Uniteds waiting - that’s for sure.”