BITS AND BOBS

Last updated : 20 August 2006 By Ed

* The Indie's report on Rangers' 2-0 win over Hearts:

The two players recruited on loan from Manchester United, Phil Bardsley and Lee Martin, were handed their first starts and the latter was particularly influential in the first half.

Martin's pace unhinged Hearts and his delivery from dead-ball situations saw him set up a plethora of chances. Boyd forced a save from Craig Gordon from one of Martin's free-kicks and then Dado Prso and Julien Rodriguez both headed two more of the teenager's set-ups over the crossbar.

* This in the Sunday Mirror:

The venue for England's training sessions last week brought a smile to the faces of some international old-timers.

A few years ago, whenever England were playing at Old Trafford the squad would prepare at Manchester United's lavish, new Carrington training ground.

But then there was a sudden change. England's training sessions were switched to United's old training ground, the Cliff.

As one England star explained: "We never knew precisely why but the switch coincided with David Beck-ham's rows with Sir Alex Ferguson and transfer to Real Madrid.

"The whisper was that by moving from Carrington Becks and Fergie weren't going to bump into each other. It's a fact that the Carrington pitches and facilities were miles better."


* Roy Keane has turned down approaches from Premiership clubs to become their new manager - preferring to learn the ropes lower down the leagues according to the Sunday Express.

* Ferguson says that United will not be returning to Amsterdam after the bans of Rooney and Scholes.