SOCCER legend Sir Tom Finney this week laughed off national newspaper speculation claiming footballers were asked to be spies during the Cold War.

The 75-year-old former North End idol chuckled at a story which said he and other greats were approached by MI6 to be double agents.

And he said there's no way he'd have even thought about swapping the lilywhite shirt for a James Bond-type suit.

Sir Tom said: "This is news to me. It's not something I'd have considered doing. I'm amused by the whole idea."

Sir Tom jetted to many countries as an England player and when he took time out to do his national service during the war.

He also turned down a lucrative move to Italy - which surely would have been an ideal opportunity had his shirt number been 007.

Other former footballers allegedly on the wanted list included Sir Stanley Matthews, Wilf Mannion and Tommy Lawton.

Had it been true we could have a had a few more Hollywood blockbusters on our hands: From Deepdale With Love or A View To a Goal.

Sir Tom will travel to Buckingham Palace at the end of February to be knighted.

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