Manchester United have completed a hat-trick of new contracts after Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Denis Irwin committed their futures to the club.

Scholes has signed on for another six years, while Butt has agreed a five-year deal and Irwin a 12-month extension.

United manager Alex Ferguson will be particularly pleased by Irwin's decision to re-sign and stay at Old Trafford.

The Republic of Ireland defender's previous 12-month agreement ended last Saturday and he was sorely tempted by offers from Newcastle, Watford and Coventry.

Irwin had felt the time might have been right to leave after losing his first-team place to Mikael Silvestre last season.

Ferguson met Irwin on Monday and appealed to the 35year-old to stay, claiming he could still expect to play around 35 matches in the coming season.

After much soul-searching Irwin, who is United's longest serving player with 11 years' service, agreed and has signed what will probably be his final contract with the club.

Ferguson will also be pleased that Butt and Scholes have decided to sign new deals, despite the imminent arrival of Juan Veron from Lazio.

The England pair will be in direct competition with Veron for the other central midfield berth alongside skipper Roy Keane.

Ferguson said: "I'm delighted they have agreed new contracts.

"It's great news for the club and for the fans. They have grown up at United and that is shown in their outstanding play and commitment to the club."

United have spent 2001 renegotiating terms with all their key players and only England skipper David Beckham and Wes Brown remain on their contract hit list.

Brown is expected to sign a new deal soon, while United are confident of reaching agreement with Beckham before the start of the new season.

Beckham's representatives, SFX, held detailed contract talks with Kenyon this week and the champions are happy with the progress being made.