Neville retirement is nonsense says Ferguson

Neville is out of contract at the end of the season (GETTY IMAGES)

Sir Alex Ferguson today dismissed as "a load of nonsense" reports that Gary Neville will retire at the end of the season.

Neville celebrates his 35th birthday next month but the passage of time appears to be catching up with the Manchester United skipper.

The last three seasons have been punctuated by injury and a disappointing performance in Sunday's FA Cup defeat to League One Leeds United led to talk that Neville has decided to call it a day.

It would be a seminal moment, given it would represent the first time a member of that famous "Class of 92" had called time on their career.

But Ferguson denied such a decision had been taken.

And while Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are committing themselves to the Red Devils for another year, Neville's future will be determined in the summer.

"There has not been a decision about Gary Neville," said Ferguson.

"We why make a decision about his future when we don't need to? You don't make decisions like that in the middle of the season.

"It is a load of nonsense."