SIGHT of a removal van and the re-direction of mail from his Preston house have led to rumours that Ricardo Fuller has quit Preston North End.

But it's a rumour Preston boss Craig Brown was quick to put to bed when told about it while over at the Euro 2004 Championships in Portugal.

Brown is used to rumours about his star Jamaican forward being about to pack his bags, but the rumours are normally started after a manager or scout has been spotted at Deepdale.

This time, internet rumours began flying after a removal van was spotted outside Fuller's flat, and it was claimed his post had been re-directed to a London address.

A bemused Brown said in his weekly bulletin on the club's website: "I am getting bombarded with questions about Ricardo and why his mail has been redirected.

"I have heard it has been redirected to Ipswich, I have heard it has been redirected to Fulham and London, to Southampton, his mail is going all over England apparently.

"If it has been redirected it has been redirected to his agent's address because he is away for a large part of the time.

"He has moved out of the accommodation he was living in here in Preston for the simple reason that there was no point paying two months rent when he was not living there.

A flying start to last season led to fans expecting Fuller to depart during the January transfer window. Despite Fulham apparently moving in for him - a rumour started when Chris Coleman was said to have been spotted at Deepdale - Fuller continued in the Lilywhite shirt.

A poorer second half of the season was blamed on an injury, and Fuller is currently in Jamaica after competing in the recent World Cup Qualifiers with PNE team-mate Claude Davis.

He is not expected back at Deepdale until mid-July - all North End's internationals have been given an extra week off.

And just so fans know where they stand, Brown added: "I can assure you, there has been no bid for Ricardo."

While that sorts out that rumour, Brown probably won't be best impressed with the way Bristol City announced they had rejected a North End bid for 21-year-old defender Clayton Fortune.

They announced it on the internet, and, unlike the Fuller web rumours, this one is fact.

According to the Robins, North End bid £150,000 for the former Spurs player. Apparently,they've been in for him twice.

Bristol City's new boss Brian Tinnion is quoted as saying: "We turned down a £100,000 offer a little while ago and they have come back with an increased offer of £150,000, but we have rejected that too."

Brown had confirmed he was looking in the lower divisions for a new player, and has yet to make a signing since setting free a host of players in a bid to trim his squad.