'No deadline' over Gascoigne's future

Paul Gascoigne has gone away for a few days to think over his future. Dundee, Partick and Exeter are all waiting for the chance to speak to the former Rangers midfielder with a view to signing him after his move to DC United in the United States fell through last week.

The former Newcastle United defender Wes Saunders, who is part of Gascoigne's management team, said: "Enquiries are coming in day by day about Paul. He won't be setting himself a deadline for making a decision."

A club spokesman at Dundee said: "Local businessmen have made it clear they would be prepared to help pay Paul Gascoigne's wages if there was a real chance of the club signing him."

The Dundee chairman, Jimmy Marr, made it clear, however, that the club will not overspend their limited budget in their attempts to lure the 35-year-old to Tayside. Nevertheless Marr believes that Gascoigne could be a "bigger crowd-puller than [Claudio] Caniggia".

The Partick manager, John Lambie, is another interested by the former Rangers midfielder's availability. Lambie said: "The attraction could be that he is coming back to Glasgow. If it is a load of money he is looking for, he will be in the wrong place but until I speak to him, nobody knows what is going to happen."

Third Division Exeter have confirmed they have made a firm offer for the former England player. The club, who are prepared to pay the player £10,000 a week, said in a statement: "Exeter wish to make it clear that the offer is still on the table should developments in Scotland not mature."