Sports Letters: Bogus bonuses

Sir: Without wishing to sound churlish, can anyone explain why high- profile people in football are still entitled to testimonials? Sir Alex Ferguson has a vast salary, shares in several racehorses, an autobiography which has been serialised for a small fortune and no need to worry about life after retirement. Chelsea's captain, Dennis Wise, has been earning vulgar amounts for several years as a Premiership player yet he will receive a reported pounds 500,000, tax-free, from his benefit match last week.

Good luck to both of them but shouldn't testimonials be solely for players and officials who do not grab the headlines and are not paid fortunes, but who have nevertheless given years to the game out of loyalty and love?

MARY FERGUSON

Heald Green