Roy Keane yesterday pledged his future to Manchester United and rejected suggestions that he was being treated for depression.

Keane, recently quoted in an English magazine as saying his club colleagues had become "complacent" following United's Champions League exit, also explained his reasons for the outburst.

"In view of the considerable media speculation during the last few days concerning my future at Manchester United, I thought it prudent to issue a statement to bring such speculation to an end," he said.

"I am very happy and settled at Manchester United, especially following the club's success yet again in the premier league this season.

"My contract with the club continues for another two years, and it is my intention to honour that contract."

Keane was reported in the English press as being treated for depression following his eighth sending-off in as many years following a dangerous lunge at Alfie Haaland during the Manchester derby nine days ago, but dismissed the reports.

"I am not suffering from depression or any other illness nor am I receiving any treatment at the Priory Clinic as has been alleged in certain newspapers," he said.

A defiant Keane last night told United's official website manutd.com: "In my position as captain of the club, I am obliged from time to time to answer inquiries from journalists and broadcasters about the club and the performance of the team, which I have tried at all times to answer both openly and honestly.

"My recent comments reflected my intense disappointment - a feeling shared by my team-mates and the rest of the club - at our elimination from the Champions League.

"In expressing my views I have not wished to cause any offence to my manager, my team-mates or the supporters of the club. Indeed, from the responses which I have received, I do not believe that any such offence has been caused."

Meanwhile, Haaland, who was quoted as saying "I don't think he is mentally right" and "I really dislike United and I can't stand their players" at the weekend, has now tried to defuse the situation by claiming he does not hold a grudge against Keane and that he does not hate the United players.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor is also keen to see the end of the row. "We don't want to see this because it can cause problems and build up grudges before games and set the wrong tone for games," he said.

Crystal Palace, on the verge of slipping out of the top two divisions for the first time in 24 years, are hoping to tempt George Graham back to the club where he started his coaching career in the late 1970s.

Palace will be relegated to the Second Division if they lose at Portsmouth tonight - a level from which they last rose under Terry Venables in 1977. Yet the prospect of the drop will not dissuade the club from setting their sights high as they search to replace Alan Smith.

Graham, currently in dispute with Tottenham after his sacking in March, was signed by Venables as a player in 1976 before being appointed youth-team coach at Selhurst Park. He went on to become Millwall's manager in 1982.

Barclaycard are the new sponsors of the Premiership. The deal with the card services company, worth £48 million over three years, will see the league named the FA Barclaycard Premiership from next season replacing Carling whose three-year deal expires this season.

Carling, who had been the Premiership's only sponsors since the breakaway in 1992, reportedly offered about £40 million in January to continue their link.