Rooney's agent involved in day of talks at Old Trafford but future remains unclear

Sir Alex Ferguson had alerted Red Devils supporters to the fact that he was to meet chief executive David Gill yesterday to discuss the disillusioned England striker's future.

But, after a frantic day of comings and goings, United last night released a statement, which said: "We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report.

"(The club) can confirm a number of meetings have taken place (yesterday), including with the player's representative.

"The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient."

The toned down content of the statement suggests plenty of heat has been taken out of the situation since Rooney released his own statement on Wednesday night which effectively claimed United no longer matched his ambitions.

It was an issue Ferguson addressed immediately after the club's Champions League win over Bursaspor, before he had even ready the full text. The Red Devils chief added that a meeting with chief executive David Gill had been scheduled for 10am yesterday, at which Rooney's Old Trafford fate was expected to be sealed.

As it turned out, it was the afternoon before Ferguson and Gill had face-to-face talks, which took place at Old Trafford rather than at the Carrington training complex.

After spending approximately an hour inside the stadium, Ferguson drove off, with Gill eventually following.

There has been no indication of what had been discussed, nor any reason offered for the delay to the timetable Ferguson had laid down.

However, with owners, the Glazer family, based in Florida, transatlantic communication could have put the deadline back if it had been required, even though Ferguson had already revealed conversations took place on Wednesday between Gill and United's controversial owners.

Rooney's adviser Paul Stretford has clearly also been heavily involved and many United fans will hope this may mean the forward, who cost 27m when he signed from Everton in 2004, could yet have a future at Old Trafford.

Although the chances appear slim in the extreme, given Rooney's damning assessment of the club's recruitment policy, it cannot entirely be discounted that there has been some kind of thaw in relations.

A succession of managers, including Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho, have claimed this week that they believe Rooney will remain at United.

And, while there have been rumours that some within the United playing squad have been left deeply unhappy at Rooney's insinuation of them being substandard, others have openly expressed a hope the striker, who celebrates his 25th birthday this weekend, can be persuaded to stay.

"Wayne is one of the best players we have. Everyone knows that," full-back Patrice Evra said. "I don't really know what he has said but I hope he gets fit quickly and I sincerely hope he plays for us again.

"But I am not Wayne Rooney. I am not Sir Alex Ferguson."