Ted Beckham: My son won't quit United

'Most English players must wonder what it is like to play in Italy or Spain but David's attitude, when I last spoke to him about his future, was: "Where do you go when you leave a club like United??

'You want to be playing with the best and in David's eyes, United are the best. I also know from talking to him that the other United players feel the same way.'

The £100,000- a- week that Beckham is reported to want is double the basic salary of captain Roy Keane. But the Beckhams are aware how such figures could alienate supporters.

His father said: 'Only on Sunday, David telephoned me to say he had read a newspaper story saying he had agreed to a new contract worth £30m over the next five years.

'He was really upset and said: "Dad, what will the United fans think of me when they read stories like that?? It is a figment of someone's imagination. The truth is that David hasn't spoken once to anyone at Old Trafford about a new contract. There is no need to. He still has two years on his current engagement. Of course he will get round to discussing a new contract in due course because he wants to stay.

'I have no doubt he will be looking for parity with the other top earners in the team. That is only right and proper. But these stories that he will be demanding a ridiculous wage are exactly that - ridiculous.'

Ferguson's intended retirement is seen as a pivotal moment for the club which has dominated English football for a decade. Beckham Snr said: 'Everyone is still clinging to the hope that Fergie will have a last-minute change of heart.

'David and the rest of the lads will be choked if Sir Alex stands by his decision to retire. I cannot begin to tell you how much help he has given David and myself down the years. He has done the same for all the other players and their families. He is a fabulous manager and a wonderful man.

'I hope United's tie-up with the New York Yankees will provide the money Sir Alex needs to buy the best players in the world. If he was in a position to do that, he might just be tempted to stay for a while longer.'

There is clearly a fear, expressed recently by Gary Neville, that if Ferguson retires next year, the break-up of the team could follow.

Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp developed the argument yesterday when he claimed Neville 'had every reason to be worried'.

Speaking on his own website, Redknapp warned: 'Players like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs have never played under another manager, so it will be interesting to see what their plans will be when Fergie steps down.

'United are obviously worried about that as well, which is why they are working on new contracts for them at the moment.'