Who`s boss at POOCHESTER

UNITED AT WAR Jul 24 2005 Keane snubbed by Ferguson after bust-up

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has had a bust-up with Roy Keane which threatens to leave Manchester United's pre-season preparations in tatters.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that Ferguson has not spoken to his captain for the last three weeks.

The pair were embroiled in a row over the decision to take the first-team squad and their families for a training camp in Portugal last month.

Keane felt families had no place close to the serious business of football and told Ferguson his opinion in no uncertain terms - only to be reminded by the Scot who is manager at Old Trafford.

Keane was left behind when United departed on their four-match tour of the Far East on Friday, with the club claiming he had suffered a hamstring strain. But the 33-year-old Irishman was put through a training session with the rest of his team-mates hours before the flight left Manchester and it seems he would have been fit to travel had Ferguson decided to take him.

Now United fans will be hoping the issue between the club's two most influential characters can be resolved before the start of the new season.

Ferguson, who declined to comment last night, ordered his players to report for pre-season training three weeks earlier than usual.

The relationship between them has been a close one in the 12 years since United paid Nottingham Forest £3.5million for the Cork-born midfielder.

Maybe the wheels are coming off before a serious ball has been kicked.

O

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