I GAVE three cheers to The Northern Echo for declining to publish the photo of Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson which was offered for publication by Manchester United for a £300 fee – as outlined in Peter Barron’s From the Editor’s chair column (Echo, Oct 25).

How disgusting. I agree with what was said in the editor’s column: the whole soap opera has all been a con.

No one is worthy of the sort of remuneration involved, certainly not a footballer. When will all this end, when will the greediness stop?

Fans should veto all matches until some sense is brought to the situation. Maybe then fathers could afford to take their sons to a game.

Mrs E Ripley, Bishop Auckland.