In a reversal of what he said last week, Gaffer George is now saying he is tempted to make a transfer window move for Real Madrid outcast David Beckham. “We have held talks with David,” said George earlier in the week, “although to be honest with you I didn’t understand much of what he was saying as it was so high pitched.

“In the end, his men talked to our men who talked to the men he knows who also knows the men who know our men. His men are holding out for a four large beers a week contract which would effectively make him the highest paid Hooligan in history and may unsettle the squad seeing as Chrissy only gets two bottles of Mahou and a packet of crisps. I am worried what effect it would have on the squad,” explained George.

“It would be nice to get his missus on the sidelines at matches though, ” he added. “Actually it would be nice to get his missus anywhere!”

Hooligans manager George has put a damper on David Beckham’s proposed January transfer move from Spanish minnows Real Madrid to the Hooligans.

"Although we are always on the look out for half decent players, Beckham is not the kind of player we need right now, plus he never handed in a photocopy of his passport  before the deadline which would effectively rule him out of playing for us in the Champions League," said George.

"The only real reason I would be tempted is because he could sell a lot of shirts for us. If we could set him up with a little stall on the sea front in Arenal with a couple of lookouts for the police I am sure David could sell three, maybe four shirts a day."

 George also denied rumours that he was in Barcelona on Monday holding talks with the Catalan giant’s president Joan Laporta. Current Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has come under intense pressure since his side’s draw with Chelsea in the Champions League and dull 1-1 draw with Deportivo at the weekend. Laporta is quoted as saying he is looking for a manager in the style of a tough talking Geordie. George, however, claims the rumours hold no substance: “I was not at the nice little Italian restaurant just off the side of the Ramblas on Monday and I did not stay in the five star Hotel Arts on Monday night, nor did I meet the charming Mr. Laporta and his fit wife and we did not discuss a 2 million euros a year contract. It is all just speculation, although the weather in Barcelona was a lot chillier than here and the lasagna was amazing.

“Of course I would like to coach a team such as Barcelona at some point in my managerial career, however I am 100 percent behind the Hooligans or whatever we are called, and I am solely focussed on Saturday’s match or whenever it is.”