SIR Alex Ferguson sent two members of his coaching staff to check out Gareth Bale as the race to land the Saints starlet hots up.

The Manchester United manager has claimed that Spurs are in pole position to land the £10m teenager, who played for Saints as they were dumped out of the FA Cup 3-1 at Manchester City yesterday.

Fergie, though, dispatched his No 2 Carlos Quieroz and coach Mike Phelan to the City of Manchester stadium to watch Bale face Premiership opposition for the first time.

But George Burley remains adamant that Bale will be at St Mary's on Wednesday when Saints host Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship - and beyond to the end of the campaign - even if United trump Spurs to land the 17-year-old left-back.

Burley, though, has consistently refused to clarify whether that means Bale WILL be sold ahead of the transfer window closing in two days time, only to be loaned back to Saints for the rest of the 2006/07 season.

Saints would push for a loan back facility, but Spurs' boss Martin Jol's current need for a quality left-back is far greater than Ferguson's.

For full story see Monday Sport.