Football: Anderton rejects Spurs deal

DARREN ANDERTON will stay at Tottenham despite rejecting a two-year contract-extension offer.

The England winger, who cost Spurs pounds 1.75m from Portsmouth two years ago, said that he 'feels a bit let down' that the Spurs deal did not match up to expectations. But his manager, Ossie Ardiles, said: 'All is not lost. Situations change in football. We say this is our final offer but in the future that might change or Darren might change his mind.

'But if any clubs see this as an alert to make a bid for him then they are wasting their time because the answer will be an unequivocal 'no'. He has two years of his contract still to run.'

Anderton has turned down a new deal. 'It was put to me that the offer was final and I had to take it or leave it,' Anderton said. 'So I left it. I feel a little let down. I'm happy at the club and looking forward to next season.'

Bryan Robson, the England coach who watched Anderton's goalscoring performance at Wembley on Tuesday, said yesterday that he had turned down offers to play on at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday before he agreed to take over the helm at First Division Middlesbrough. 'I didn't think it appropriate after my time there although fate will probably give us United now in the Cup,' he said.

Alun Evans, the much-criticised Football Association of Wales chief executive who has been on sick leave, has been told by the FAW council that his job is safe.