Tabloids... love em 
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
:
The Tampa Bay Mutiny denied reports that Everton midfielder Paul Gascoigne was joining the Major League Soccer club.
The Mirror tabloid reported in last Thursday's edition that the former England international would join Tampa Bay in March.
"It (signing Gascoigne) would be fabulous for this league (MLS)," said Tampa Bay general manager Bill Manning. "Paul Gascoigne is someone the Mutiny knows and respects as a player, but at this point, I can't verify any type of validation to that (Mirror) story."
Tampa Bay coach Perry Van Der Beck has been scouting players at English Premiership and First Division clubs during a two-week trip to the United Kingdom while Mutiny chief operating officer Eddie Austin has visited several clubs in Scotland. Manning says that while a number of players have been identified as prospective signing targets, no offers have been extended.
"We certainly know Gazza and if the interest is there, we would like to be the club that signs him," Manning said. "We have been very respectful to all European clubs and have not been in direct contact with any players. This has just been a scouting mission for us to scout players who agents have brought to our attention."
Gascoigne, 34, will be out of contract with Everton at the end of the 2001-2002 remiership season. The Mutiny is desperate to add players to a side that is still reeling from a nightmare season where it finished 4-21-2.Manning said Austin and Van Der Beck are scheduled to return to the U.S. this weekend and that the duo have identified a number of players they would like to add to the Tampa Bay roster, but will not make any moves until MLS indicates how many spots can be filled by foreign players. Manning would not
indicate wich players Van Der Beck and Austin had designated as potential signings.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> :
The Tampa Bay Mutiny denied reports that Everton midfielder Paul Gascoigne was joining the Major League Soccer club.
The Mirror tabloid reported in last Thursday's edition that the former England international would join Tampa Bay in March.
"It (signing Gascoigne) would be fabulous for this league (MLS)," said Tampa Bay general manager Bill Manning. "Paul Gascoigne is someone the Mutiny knows and respects as a player, but at this point, I can't verify any type of validation to that (Mirror) story."
Tampa Bay coach Perry Van Der Beck has been scouting players at English Premiership and First Division clubs during a two-week trip to the United Kingdom while Mutiny chief operating officer Eddie Austin has visited several clubs in Scotland. Manning says that while a number of players have been identified as prospective signing targets, no offers have been extended.
"We certainly know Gazza and if the interest is there, we would like to be the club that signs him," Manning said. "We have been very respectful to all European clubs and have not been in direct contact with any players. This has just been a scouting mission for us to scout players who agents have brought to our attention."
Gascoigne, 34, will be out of contract with Everton at the end of the 2001-2002 remiership season. The Mutiny is desperate to add players to a side that is still reeling from a nightmare season where it finished 4-21-2.Manning said Austin and Van Der Beck are scheduled to return to the U.S. this weekend and that the duo have identified a number of players they would like to add to the Tampa Bay roster, but will not make any moves until MLS indicates how many spots can be filled by foreign players. Manning would not
indicate wich players Van Der Beck and Austin had designated as potential signings.