Beckham bid a non-starter

THE prospect of David Beckham swapping his luxury lifestyle in La Liga for a taste of the SPL with Celtic was dismissed in typically facetious style by Gordon Strachan yesterday.

The Celtic manager found himself linked with a January transfer window move for the former England captain, whose Real Madrid contract expires at the end of the season, in a Sunday newspaper report.

Strachan confirmed he had spoken to the journalist who wrote the story, but claimed their exchange had entered the public domain out of context.

"After the press conference on Friday, unfortunately a journalist who is also a friend of mine had a hypothetical conversation with me and it's managed to get out there [in public]," said Strachan. "You wonder why I keep myself to myself with you guys, well that's why.

"I can't imagine it happening. I can just see David, Victoria, Lesley and myself at Tunnock's cafe in Uddingston together. The rhubarb tarts are great there, but I don't know if it's enough to tempt them."

Beckham, who has seen negotiations on a new contract at Real Madrid stall this season as he struggles to hold down a place in coach Fabio Capello's starting XI, is known to hanker after a move to the United States before his playing career ends.

In the report in the Sunday Telegraph, Strachan was quoted as saying: "I have David's telephone number. He is a world class player who is still fit and could play at the highest level for another three years. I know he would not go to another club in England."