Sport 08-11-2001 Scholes Fined £100,000 who: Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes what: Fined £100,000 for not turning up to Worthington Cup match where: Highbury, LONDON when: Monday snippet: "Speculation was mounting last night over the Old Trafford future of Paul Scholes," reports The Independent`s Alan Nixon. "Manchester United`s England international midfield player is unhappy about his role in the team this season and has expressed his concern to the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson." Scholes was reportedly selected to play in the Worthington Cup tie against Arsenal at Highbury but refused to play, resulting in a £100,000 fine from Sir Alex Ferguson, who was believed to be furious. Neither have so far commented on the row. The Sun`s Neil Custis says that Scholes is unhappy at Manchester United, not only because he was dropped from United`s Premiership defeat against Liverpool on Sunday but also because he wants to play in central midfield while Sir Alex Ferguson has been asking him to play behind lone striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, contrary to other reports Oliver Holt, chief sports correspondent to The Times, today say that "Scholes`s failure to travel to Highbury was as much a result of confusion and lack of communication as insurrection" and that the dispute was put to an end "when Scholes apologised for an uncharacteristic show of rebelliousness". [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!