STAY AT UNITED... FOR £35 A WEEK!

Remarkable letter sent to keeper Dunne in 1965

Manchester United’s most highly paid stars such as Paul Pogba and Wayne rooney may now rack up salaries in the region of £300,000 per week — but there was a time when the cream of Old trafford received a weekly wage of just £35.

Images emerged yesterday of a United contract from 1965 that belonged to their goalkeeper Pat Dunne, who was signed by legendary manager sir Matt Busby.

republic of Ireland goalkeeper Dunne signed for United from shamrock rovers for £10,500 in 1964 and he was in line for a contract extension a year later. the two-year deal was worth a mere £35 a week and it was shared online by a friend of Dunne’s grandson yesterday.

the 1965 letter from the United club secretary said: ‘In accordance with Football League and Football association rules, I beg to advise you that the club desire to retain your services and wish to offer you a two year contract on the terms stated below with the option of a further two years as provided by the new agreements.

‘Forms are available at this office, if you wish to discuss any matter with Mr Busby he will be available any morning at the ground.’ Former United coach Wilf McGuinness was reserve team manager at the time, before eventually replacing Busby as manager.

he told Sportsmail: ‘the contracts were a bit rubbish in those days obviously. I was United’s union delegate when you could only get £20 a week.

‘United were one of the big clubs and giving that sort of money (£35). the top players wouldn’t get too much more if I’m honest. some of the bigger players then went to £100. as time went on they started to get paid what they should have done.’

the invitation to discuss the contract offer with scottish coach Busby, however, would lead to some very quick exchanges. McGuinness’s memories of contractual negotiations with Busby call to the mind the old Brian clough line that ‘we talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right’.

McGuinness added: ‘he (Busby) told you what you were getting, there wasn’t much negotiating! One or two of us argued it out with him but not for too long. You respected Matt, he was terrific.’

as for Dunne, he helped United to a league title success in 1965, the club’s first league triumph since the 1958 Munich air disaster. he moved on to play for Plymouth and returned to shamrock. Dunne passed away at the age of 72 in 2015.

‘ Pat was lively enough!’ said McGuinness. ‘a brave goalkeeper, a decent one.’