CHAMPIONSWORLD, the US company that operated the pre-season series of friendlies for Manchester United, Celtic, Liverpool and Chelsea last summer, has filed for bankruptcy protection from its creditors.

John O’Shea will rest up when Manchester United face Bayern Munich on Sunday in their opening ChampionsWorld series match.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Celtic are all set to take part in the 2004 ChampionsWorld Series in the United States during the summer.

MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive Peter Kenyon has ruled out a bid for Damien Duff following the collapse of Ronaldinho’s £20m move from Paris St Germain.