MANCHESTER City manager Kevin Keegan and his board of directors are firmly united to take City on to great things in the next few years, insists Maine Road chairman David Bernstein writes Neil Bonnar

The Blues have been the subject of mounting speculation this week that Keegan could be ready to quit because of the less than expected amount of transfer cash he has been given.

The rumours have distracted City's preparations for Saturday's big Premiership derby with Wanderers and the club even took the unusual step of releasing a statement denying Keegan was on the verge of leaving.

Bernstein dismissed the stories and said Keegan is happy with life at Maine Road including his transfer kitty.

"Some of the rumours about people being unsettled is absolute nonsense," said Bernstein on the club's official website. We have a very settled situation at Manchester City and we are all looking forward to moving forward and to continuing going down the successful path of the last few years.

"Money in football now is a scarce and valuable commodity and we have to use it cleverly.

"We have agreed with Kevin the funds which are available and I think all parties are satisfied. We have committed the maximum amount of money that this club can at this stage for the January transfer window without over-reaching ourselves which of course we won't do."

City could be back to full strength tomorrow with Sylvain Distin fit to return to the centre of defence and skipper Steve Howey set to join him after a threee-week injury absence for both.

It would enable Sun Jihai to move out to right wing back in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips and re-establish the strong defensive unit which was the foundation of City's two successive away victories at West Brom and Birmingham.