AN employee with Manchester United's travel company was suspended today after Alan Shearer's name was included on a list of 30 people booked on the club's trip to Milan for a pre-season friendly at the end of the month.

Shortly after United had categorically denied that the club had submitted any names to British Airways, the Leamington Spa-based firm Travel Management issued a statement.

Their commercial director Mike Scholefield said: "We are conducting an investigation within our organisation to see how the story could have originated.

"I can further say that a staff member has been suspended on full pay pending our investigation which will take a couple of days.

"We don't know what has happened or what caused the story, but when Manchester United contacted us we told them an inquiry was already under way.

"It is something we have to take seriously and we do need to go through all the paperwork and question people about conversations to see what basis there is to this story."

The Daily Mirror today assumed that United had added Shearer's name to their list to travel.

But developments quickly unfolded after Old Trafford solicitor Maurice Watkins revealed: "I can assure you that the list has not come from Old Trafford.

"The club have not yet put the travelling party together for the Milan trip."

United needed to deny knowledge of this latest twist to the Shearer saga.

For, if they had submitted his name, then they could well have been in very serious trouble. Ewood vice-chairman Richard Matthewman, who has been in close touch with Jack Walker, revealed that if there had been evidence that it was down to United, the club would have had to take action through the Premier League.

Before the statement from the travel company, Watkins added: "I certainly can't cast any insight into this. All I can say is that Alan Shearer is not a Manchester United player.

"I suspect this is some over-optimism on the part of a travel agent or a sense of humour. I can't comment because I haven't seen the list.

"All I can say is that we haven't signed Alan Shearer and I can't throw any light on this BA manifest'.

"Everyone knows that we have expressed an interest in Alan Shearer but the position hasn't changed. Blackburn have indicated to us that they do not wish to deal."

Rovers have booked a flight of their own out of Manchester, a week after United go to Milan.

Holland is Rovers' destination and it was confirmed this morning that A Shearer would be on the list of names submitted!

Assistant boss Tony Parkes, who usually draws up the travel and rooming lists, said: "I have no reason to believe anything other than Alan's name will be on the list for our flight.

"We don't submit the names until a couple of weeks before departure because there are always changes."

Meanwhile, the Mirror, apparently believing United had listed the name, carried a two-page spread inside headlined "My Future by Alan Shearer" and which will have Rovers supporters ranting against another national newspaper.

Following the criticism of the Sun by fans, the Mirror has now plumbed similar depths as the story has nothing to do with Shearer talking about his future. Instead it is simply Mirror reporter Steve Millar stating his opinions.

"It's scandalous to put it like that, there's nothing new in it at all from Alan," added Parkes.

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