Wantaway striker leaves Fergie reeling

LONDON - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who has reduced hardened internationals to quivering wrecks and sold the biggest names, is discovering the limits of his powers after failing to persuade Wayne Rooney to stay.

Rooney may yet change his mind, but the prospect of the England striker following Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez out of Old Trafford leaves Ferguson to contemplate another major rebuilding job as he approaches a quarter-century in charge.

With the generation of players that helped United reach its exalted state, the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, edging toward retirement, the 68-year-old Scot has a lot to consider and he could be forgiven for sounding exasperated as he shocked reporters with the Rooney news.