Giggs gets an extra two years at United

Ryan Giggs and Tim Howard have both signed two-year contract extensions with Manchester United.

United chief executive David Gill had suggested the club were unwilling to bend on the policy of not offering over 30s any more than a one-year deal but they have now relented, allowing Wales winger Giggs to stay until 2008 and goalkeeper Howard until the following summer.

"I am quite confident I will finish my career at United," said 31-year-old Giggs.

"I have made no secret that I am enjoying life here and there is nowhere else I would want to go. At the moment I am just concentrating on playing well. Hopefully the end is a long way off."

The new deal means Giggs may now go on to set a new club record for appearances. Giggs's outing against Southampton yesterday was his 634th for United, 120 behind Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time best mark.

"I have been here since I was a young boy and I have grown very fond of the club and the fans," added Giggs.

New owner Malcolm Glazer will remove United from the Stock Exchange after today passing the key 75 per cent shareholding threshold.

The American businessman is expected to outline his plans in an offer document to be released on Wednesday, and the race is now on for the 78-year-old to reach the 90 per cent mark that would force the compulsory purchase of the remaining shares.