BITS AND BOBS

Last updated : 15 March 2006 By Ed

* Ruud has apparantly been knocked off the top of the all-important Actim Index, which ranks players on positive actions such as passes, shots and tackles made during a game.

He is now second, with Frank Lampard top. The next best United player is Ferdinand (7th with Rooney (15th).

* A Crewe website has a piece about Dario Gradi becoming United's Youth Director next year.

* The BBC:

Letters written by David Beckham have been sold for £1,058 at auction. The two letters and a drawing were penned by the England captain in 1991, when he was 16-years-old and had just signed for Manchester United.

A Manchester United FC blazer awarded to legendary player George Best in 1968 was also sold at Bonham's auction house in Chester on Monday.

Best had given the navy jacket, which sold for £13,160, to a pub landlord in Manchester.

Written to a friend called Lee, Beckham's letters revealed that his trainee wage packet was £120 - it is estimated he now earns £100,000 a week at Real Madrid - and that being a footballer made it easy to attract girls.

* The Sun report that Chelsea are 'back on the trail of Ashley Cole'.