Former York City starlet Jonathan Greening has been put up for sale by Manchester United, the Evening Press can reveal.

TAKING FLIGHT: Andy Douglas, on trial with York City from Premiership club Sheffield Wednesday, leaps to avoid Scarborough keeper Soren Egerson during yesterday's behind closed doors meeting

The news will be of significant interest to City, who stand to land a sizeable chunk of any transfer fee United pull in for the highly rated youngster.

The Evening Press understands United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson has run out of patience with the 21-year-old, who has so far refused to sign a new contract with the Premiership giants and treble winners.

The deal made in the spring of 1998 that took Scarborough-born Greening from Bootham Crescent to Old Trafford included a sell on clause, believed to be 20 per cent, of any fee United were to receive for the striker-cum-midfielder.

It is understood Greening, who has more than a year of his current contract to run, had been offered an extension plus more cash to remain with the European champions.

But it is the lack of first-team football at Old Trafford that seems to have led the England Under-21 international, rated very highly by United, to so far refuse to put pen to paper.

Sir Alex confirmed: "We offered Jonathan a new deal last summer, as we do with all the youngsters who are showing promise, but he has not signed it and this has now been going on for nine months.

"You get to the point where we feel we have got to listen to offers for him."

Greening's most recent appearance for United came in their World Club Championship 2-0 victory over South Melbourne in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Speculation as to what fee United would want for Greening ranges from £500,000 to £2million, meaning York City's coffers could be swollen by as much as £400,000.

As a marker, Norwich City paid £500,000 to United for fellow youngster and Northern Ireland international Phil Mulryne in March last year, while a month later United accepted around £1million for winger Terry Cooke from rivals Manchester City.

Tottenham are believed to one of the clubs monitoring the Greening situation having taken a keen interest in his progress while at Bootham Crescent.

Scottish giants Celtic are also believed to be interested in the player, who is regarded by many as deputy to David Beckham.

In the deal City struck with United they were paid £350,000 initially and collect £100,000 for every five first team appearances Greening makes for United up to 50.

That would net the Minstermen more than £1million, but so far Greening's United appearances over 21 months number just 14 with eight of those coming from the bench.

Last season, Greening was crowned Old Trafford's reserve team footballer of the year and was a member of the Manchester United squad that lifted the Champions' League trophy in Barcelona beating Bayern Munich 2-1.

York City overcame their North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough 2-1 in a hastily arranged friendly match at the Minstermen's Wigginton Road training ground.

Both sides took the opportunity to give players returning from injury, first team fringe players and trialists a run out after a Pontin's League encounter at the McCain Stadium was postponed due to a water-logged pitch

City manager Neil Thompson, describing the match as "a good work out", revealed he wants to have another look at Sheffield Wednesday striking duo Andy Douglas, brother of Luton Town's Stuart, and Dublin-born Dean Brennan.

The pair, both 19, are first year professionals at Hillsborough, but are set to be released at the end of the season.

"They are worth having another look at," said Thompson, who came through 60 minutes of yesterday's match unscathed after recovering from a calf strain.

Scott Jordan also played 60 minutes as he continues his comeback from a back injury, while Craig Skinner played the full 90 minutes and scored one of City's two goals - Marc Williams bagged the other.

Thompson remains confidant striker Barry Conlon will be available for the weekend after sporting a swollen, black eye following an accidental training collision with Matt Hocking.

A TRIO of protesting York City supporters' were in London today to make capital gains from a national football conference.

Greg Stone, Joe Haining and Will Harris, members of Fans Against Craig's Tyranny (FACT), were attending the Supporter Involvement in Football Clubs conference at the University of London - the conference will examine how fans can become more involved in the running of their clubs.

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