HELLO! GOODBYE!

Beckham is 'to retire in two years' according to Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón.

Beckham is currently negotiating with club chiefs over an extension to his current deal, which expires at the end of this season.

"As far as I know he's decided to retire in two years," said Calderón. "For us it would be fantastic if he could stay with us for the next two years. We need him, he is playing very well and the coach trusts him. We hope everything will be all right in the next 15, 20 days to sign a new contract."

However, Beckham's spokesman played down Calderón's comments. "Talk of retirement is a complete surprise to us," he said. "No one has ever discussed a retirement date. David's only concern is to play for Real Madrid and win things at the club."

Swindon have confirmed that Paul Ince's contract with the club has been cancelled by mutual consent, barely a month after he joined the Robins.

"It is regrettable that Paul Ince has to announce for personal reasons that he will not be able to fulfil his contract with Swindon Town," read a statement on the club's website.

"The realities of living away from home and the travel time from Chester have proved more challenging than the ambition to play for his old friend Dennis Wise. Paul and Dennis have mutually agreed to cancel his contract forthwith."

Could Stan Collymore need a spell in rehab? He tells the Mirror he's making a comeback:

"I've had physical tests and I'm confident I will come back faster, stronger and fitter than I ever was.

"A month from today I guarantee I will be able to stand side by side with any striker in the country and my physique will be up there with any of them. This time I'm not going to self-destruct. You are not going to see headlines about me being kicked out of a bar somewhere in the early hours rolling drunk.

"I saw nothing in the World Cup that made me think, 'I can't do that'. I know I can still be among the best."