ROONEY AND FERGUSON

So...what to make of the saga of the two Old Trafford key men a couple of days after it all blew up?

Well, I did the first ever book on Wayne in 2004 and found him a really good lad - sure, he had a side that marked him down as a loveable, likeable rogue, but he was also down-to-earth and easy to talk with.

Six years on, the boy has changed - and not for the better. If he was the equivalent of 11 or 12 in 2004 in true emotional terms, he is now like the stereotypical moody, miexd up, messed up teenager. Rebellious, troublesome and wrong in the way he thinks he is right.

He is not worth the £200k a week he is asking for at the moment - and he is not as good as he thinks he is right now. He needs someone to tell him to buckle down, work hard and get his form back.

Unfortunately, when Fergie did just that, he took it the wrong way - his head is too big and he won't listen to advice.

My understanding is that Fergie is backed by the board for taking a moral stance and, even more importantly, by Sir Bobby Charlton - who was very upset that the club's name was dragged through the mud with the prostitute allegations.

This is Fergie's last stand and a fight he has to win, he hopes with a public backdown from Rooney and a pledge to stay.

If not, he will let him go and try to build one final great team - and he will spend all the cash he gets for him to quell any fans' rebellion over the idea that the Glazers are using the money to fund their debts.

I also hear that if Rooney does leave, his preferred option is Chelsea and his old mate, John Terry.

On this one, I back Fergie - and hope Wayne comes to his senses, backs down and stays...