Scholes play plan stalls

PAUL Scholes could have pulled on an Athletic shirt after all — in a pre-season friendly.

The club put the plan to the retired Manchester United ace, which would have seen him turn out for the club he supports, only for it to be scuppered by the fact that the Grasscroft-based former England midfielder is away on holiday for most of July.

"It is a shame I am away, but maybe next year," said Scholes, whose idols while he was growing up in Middleton were Andy Ritchie and Frank Bunn.