Rooney is ready for long-term stay

English FA Premiership: Wayne Rooney yesterday claimed he is prepared to commit himself to Manchester United for the next 10 years.

"I don't see any reason why I won't be (here)," the former Everton forward said. "It's a massive club with a massive fan base and we've got a lot of good young players. Hopefully we're going to keep getting better."

Rooney, who is under contract at Old Trafford until 2010, added that he hopes this season will see him collect a first major club honour. "I joined Manchester United to win trophies and medals," said the 20-year-old, a losing FA Cup finalist with United in May.

"Hopefully Chelsea will drop a few points and we can get close or even catch them. With a bit of luck we could end up overtaking them.

"If we win our game in hand it's a seven-point gap and there's a lot of games left. It's not over."

United's manager Alex Ferguson has distanced himself from speculation about his taking over from Alex McLeish at Rangers.

"I'm finishing once I leave Man Utd, as I've said many times," commented the 63-year-old Scot, a former Ibrox centre-forward. "I'll retire when I leave Man Utd. I spoke to Alex (McLeish) recently and he was in good spirits, which says a lot about the character and strength of the man."

If Rangers beat Internazionale at Ibrox in a fortnight they would become the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The English Football Association is to write to clubs warning managers and officials they are no longer allowed to own shares in player agents' businesses. There will be a transitional period for the sale of stock, but those who continue to hold it would not be allowed to engage that agent to act on their behalf. The regulations were agreed by the FA council yesterday, although it stopped short of outlawing dual representation which sees some agents paid by player and club over the same deal.

"This is a step in the right direction but only amounts to a declaration of good intentions," said Jon Holmes, chief executive of the SFX agency.

"The big challenge will be when it comes to strictly enforcing these regulations. The FA would appear to be relying upon the willingness of all agents to be transparent in every deal and I am sceptical that this can be achieved."

Meanwhile, Roy Keane could be fast-tracked into management despite still working towards the correct qualifications to satisfy Premier League rules.

Keane has been tipped for a move to another top-flight club as a player and also as a possible manager, with the Portsmouth job currently vacant following the departure of Alain Perrin.

"Each manager holds either a valid Uefa Pro Diploma, a Football Association Diploma or a valid diploma of a similar standard from another national association," Premier League rules state.

It is understood Keane would be unlikely to be forbidden to take a job at a top-flight club, given the fact he is applying for the correct badges.

Clubs outside the top flight are not bound by the same rules.

Southampton's first board meeting since the departure of Clive Woodward's right-hand man Simon Clifford passed off peacefully yesterday.

"I feel great, I'm okay," said the manager Harry Redknapp. "I said the other day I get fed up with all the crap that surrounds this club; talking about people who should not be talked about."

Guardian Service