A RECENT letter to HAS highlighted the incredible earnings available to Premiership footballers. In the last few days it has been made known that Steven Gerrard has opened talks with his club, Liverpool, over a new contract with a starting salary of £120,000 per week.

Gerrard is said to be happy with his football and I am sure that most people would also be content with their work should they enjoy a similar reward.

There have been some examples of footballers doing conspicuous good with their riches. Here in the North-East, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn can be seen as a shining example of such.

However, if the gossip columns are to be believed, many present day players are obsessed with speed in that they spend their money on fast cars, even faster women and very slow racehorses.

Not content with their earnings as footballers, many ex-players morph into media pundits with what can only be described as mixed results. It can be truly said that Gary Lineker has much to answer for.

Martin Birtle, Billingham.