By Chris O'Brien
October 4 2004

Roy Carroll’s Manchester United future is in question; with the Ulsterman not interested in signing the one-year deal he has been offered. The goalkeeper wants assurance of first-team football before he pens a new contract at Old Trafford. Roy Carroll’s current run in the Manchester United line-up could well decide his footballing future. The Northern Irish international is out of contract at the end of the season, and is reluctant to sign a new deal unless he is guaranteed first-team football as a Red Devil.

A handful of errors has seen Tim Howard dropped from the United starting XI, and Carroll is enjoying a well-earned run in the first-team. Reports suggest the Ulsterman has only been offered a one-year contract to stay at Old Trafford, which he is unhappy to sign as it would indicate another season of warming the bench.

The 26-year-old is not only frustrated by failing to secure the United first-choice jersey, but is also getting fed up of playing second fiddle to Maik Taylor on the international scene for Northern Ireland. The player has been quoted on many occasions saying regular Premiership football would help his claim for a regular spot in Lawrie Sanchez’s side.

Everton are said to be monitoring the situation closely, with David Moyes a keen admirer of Carroll. Glasgow Rangers, the team Carroll has supported has a boy, are another name said to be interested in signing the former Wigan number one.

Carroll is not a sensational goalkeeper, but he is a solid, dependable shot stopper who has done an excellent job at second choice over the past few seasons. I would personally be bitterly disappointed to see him leave, and no doubt a queue of clubs would be interested in obtaining the ‘keeper’s signature if he were to depart.