Manchester 250: Tuesday 21 August

TWO GANGSTERS, who were said to be running the ‘nerve centre’ for the Gooch gang in Manchester, have been arrested. Colin Joyce, 28, and Lee Amos, 31, have been described by police as the biggest threat to the safety of people in the city. The men, who were recently freed from prison, after serving part of a sentence for gun possession, will now serve the remainder of their sentence keeping them behind bars until 2009.

FOOTBALLER Lee Hughes will have to sit out a one-week ban before being allowed to play for Oldham Athletic. The former premiership star has just been released from prison after serving half of a six-year sentence for a hit and run accident which killed a grandfather. Hughes was sent off in his last prison game and the suspension applies to Football League matches.

‘MICKEY MOUSE’ courses at Manchester Metropolitan University are under scrutiny after reports that they cost taxpayers £40m a year. The TaxPayers Alliance has described courses such as fashion buying as ‘failing to provide any intellectual stimulation or boost students’ employment prospects’. A Manchester Metropolitan spokesman said: “It is not a degree in shopping. Of leavers in 2006, only two per cent were unemployed.”

CITY STRIKER Valeri Bojinov will not play again this year following a knee injury in the derby win over United. City has confirmed that he has damaged the ligaments of his left knee after a challenge with Patrice Evra just six minutes into his first start for the Blues.