Fjording a reputation

NORWAY coach Age Hereide has formed the managers' mutual appreciation society ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, by hailing George Burley as an outstanding choice by Scotland.

In an exclusive with the Daily Record, Hereide told how he had heard all about the SFA's No 1 choice from one of his own players, Claus Lundekvam, who played under Burley, right, at Southampton. "He was full of praise for his training methods, the way he thought about football and how he would talk to the players. I never heard Claus say one bad thing about George."

We will see if the glowing praise can survive two frenzied World Cup ties when the countries battle each other for a place at South Africa 2010.

The Sun, meanwhile, reported that Rangers – flush from their Alan Hutton windfall – are ready to offer their skipper Barry Ferguson a deal which will keep him at the club for the rest of his career.