THE COWARDLY WAY OUT?

Manchester United’s preparations for the FA Cup Final against Arsenal on May 22 have been hit by a setback over the fitness of Gabriel Heinze and by indications that Rio Ferdinand plans to wait until after the end of the season before deciding whether to commit his future to the club.

A week ago, Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, implored Ferdinand to sign a new contract before the match at the Millennium Stadium — applying emotional pressure by asking the central defender to reassure supporters who would be “going to Cardiff wondering if Rio is committed to the club or not” — but Ferdinand’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has informed the club this week that the 26-year-old will not be rushed into making a decision before the season is finished.

Zahavi has remained in regular contact with Ferguson and David Gill, the club’s chief executive, since an official meeting on April 15. The manager, who has hinted at dissatisfaction with Ferdinand often in the past fortnight, is expected to tread carefully around the subject at his weekly press briefing today, after the player was jeered by United supporters during the 4-0 victory away to Charlton Athletic on Sunday.

The apparent impasse has caused disquiet at Old Trafford, particularly with Zahavi having indicated that his client would leave on a free transfer in June 2007 if no new contract can be agreed. But the agent has assured United that he expects an agreement, even though no decision has been made on the most recent offer, which, potentially worth more than £100,000 a week, would make Ferdinand the best-paid player in English football history.