Rocker Rod Stewart is reportedly in negotiations to follow in the footsteps of his pal SIR Elton John and take over a British soccer team.

The soccer-mad star's name has been linked with English DIVISION TWO team RUSHDEN AND DIAMONDS by local newspaper EVENING TELEGRAPH, after the club's chairman, DR MARTENS shoe tycoon MAX GRIGGS, announced his plans to step down last week (ends31OCT03).

Rumours connecting Stewart with the Northamptonshire team have come at a good time for the rocker, who has reportedly been forced to give up playing soccer due to a knee injury.

The MAGGIE MAY singer, a fervent fan of SCOTLAND and GLASGOW CELTIC, has a full-size football pitch in the grounds of his Essex, England home.

His musical pal Elton was the chairman of English FIRST DIVISION team WATFORD until recently.

06/11/2003 09:49