Brown for the door?

Brown: Old Trafford exit?

Manchester United’s Wes Brown could be leaving Old Trafford in the summer after contract negotiations reached a stalemate.

Brown, who has been at United since he was a boy is holding out for a £65,000 a week deal according the The Sun. It is believed that he is being offered in the region of £45,000 a week.

The spat over Brown’s future has irked Sir Alex Ferguson who believes that agents hold too much sway over players in the modern game.

‘We’ve given him his offer. It’s in his hands, not in ours. Players today live in their agents’ pockets. It’s a situation which depresses me at times,’ said an irate Fergie.

‘Wes has been with us since he was 12 but I don’t think that matters these days. Their agents live their lives for them — and if you are happy to go along with that then you get the situation you have just now.’

Brown has had a decent run in the first-team as first-choice right back Gary Neville recovers from a long term injury. Brown, also an England international would attract interest from a number of top clubs who would meet and exceed his wage demands.

Wes and his agent have some thinking/growing up to do, delete as you feel appropriate.

Meanwhile, Spurs, Bolton and Everton have triumphed in the UEFA Cup. It was a happy return to first-team action for Paul Robinson who pulled off a string of top-drawer saves as Spurs drew 1-1 with Slavia Prague at White Hart Lane to win 3-2 on aggregate and book a berth in the last 16.

Bolton impressively negotiated a tricky second-leg tie in Madrid, drawing 0-0 with Atletico and advancing 1-0 on aggregate.

Unfortunately the shine was taken off the performance as Bolton fans were baton charged by police at the Vicente Calderon stadium, provoking a strong reaction from Chairman Phil Gartside.

‘I have great sympathy for any of our supporters who have been injured by what is clearly an overreaction by the Spanish police,’ said Gartside.

‘Bolton Wanderers Football Club will be pursuing the matter at the highest level and seeking an explanation from the Spanish authorities.’

Everton smashed Brann 6-1 (8-1 aggregate) to advance in the UEFA Cup. Yakubu Ayegbeni scored a hat-trick in the romp to continue a fine run of form for the Toffees.

Roy Keane is one of the many high profile names in football expressing concern for Paul Gascoigne who was detained on Thursday following an incident at a Newcastle hotel and is currently undergoing treatment.

‘We all send our best to Paul. It's obviously sad, but we pray from everyone from Sunderland that he pulls through okay because no-one likes to see that,’ said Keane.

‘That is a problem, particularly with a lot of footballers when you stop playing; there is a massive gap in your life.

‘We all pray that Paul finds a bit of peace and serenity because he deserves it.’

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