Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been backed over his decision to keep veteran trio Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville for next season.

The trio have all been handed 12 month deals.

Former United youth boss Eric Harrison told the Manchester Evening News: "There is no chance they have been given new contracts out of sentiment.

"I have known Sir Alex a long time and he doesn't work that way. In top, top-flight professional football you cannot work on sentiment. He has never been like that.

"Sir Alex has rewarded them for the part they can play in helping him and the team in the future not for what they have done in the past.

"On the field they are extremely important players still and off the field they can help enormously. They are a great inspiration to the younger players.

"I have seen how younger players respond to them and how they help them.

"It is not all about the 90 minutes the fans see on the pitch. I cannot understand any United fan who doesn't believe Giggs, Neville and Scholes should have been kept on."