Football: Gascoigne calls off pounds 3m Boro transfer

PAUL GASCOIGNE has refused to leave Rangers to join Middlesbrough in a pounds 3m transfer, writes Alan Nixon. The England midfielder has personally called off a deal to team up with Bryan Robson because he wants to see out the season in Scotland.

Gascoigne's snub to Boro will exasperate the Rangers chairman, David Murray, who set up the transfer a week after preparing a similar move to Crystal Palace. Murray is believed to be the driving force behind his departure, but the fans and the manager, Walter Smith, are happy for Gascoigne to stay for the rest of the season.

After lengthy talks with friends and Rangers staff yesterday, Gascoigne decided he would finish the campaign at Ibrox and told his agent, Mel Stein, to call off the transfer after both clubs announced they had agreed a price.

Now Gascoigne wants to get back into the Rangers team and help their fading hopes of winning a 10th successive title and the Scottish Cup as well as recovering his fitness and international place with England.