PLANS have been approved for a new £17m state-of-the-art 16.6 acre training complex in Blantyre for the Scotland team.

It will have three full-size pitches, one indoors, a five-star hotel and a housing development. On two levels, it will include gymnasium, steam rooms, saunas and hydrotherapy pools.

South Lanarkshire Council have approved the plans, despite objections against building on green belt land and causing environmental damage, and they now have to be approved by the Scottish Executive.

The complex, which will be built by Craighead Properties and then leased to the SFA, would be used exclusively by all of the Scottish teams. Purely Scottish mineral water were today unveiled as new joint sponsors of the Scottish football and rugby teams. Valencia defender David Navarro's seven-month ban for his part in the brawl with Inter Milan has been extended to domestic and international matches. Deportivo La Coruna star Juan Carlos Valeron needs a career-saving operation on his left knee. Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn has apologised to a doctor for losing the rag as he had trouble producing a sample after the Champions League win over Real Madrid. Falkirk could move for St Mirren striker John Sutton. Barcelona have denied speculation that Ronaldinho or other top players could leave at the end of the season. Brazil legend Romario, on the verge of scoring what he claims will be the 1,000th goal of his career, has admitted his total of 998 includes goals scored in non-professional matches. League clubs have slammed Rafael Benitez's proposal for reserve teams to play in the Football League.