Football: Ince signs new deal: United dynamo heals rift

PAUL INCE has finally pledged his future to Manchester United by signing a new three-year contract, thus ending a long-running dispute with the club chairman Martin Edwards.

The latter's relief was unmistakeable. 'I'm absolutely delighted that Paul has agreed terms with the club,' Edwards said. 'It was an amicable agreement and he's assured us he never wanted to leave. We've given him an improved contract which will bring him in line with all our other senior players.'

Ince, too, was a happy man. 'I'm very pleased that everything has been sorted out. I didn't want a confrontation with the chairman because I have too much respect for him.

'The deal had to be right for me and my family. The bottom line is that my heart is in Man United. I didn't really want to go anywhere else and I'm delighted the problem has been finally sorted out.'

The new deal ties Ince to Old Trafford until he is 30. The Ilford- born player signed from West Ham in September 1989, and made his debut three days later. He captained England against Brazil on the US tour of 1993 and has been talked of as a future United captain.