Rover's revenge

Fall-out from trouble with BMW is only too obvious on Rover's website

Rover workers can expect a little light relief from their troubles with former German owners BMW this weekend.

It could cost us a lot of money but we'd pay up with pride

Coral

They could even be in line for a cash boost - if England win their vital Euro 2000 qualifier against Germany on Saturday.

Following the recent upheavals between the British firm and the Munich-based car giant, bookmakers Coral are giving 8,000 staff at Rover's Longbridge plant £50,000-worth of free bets on the match.

They are calling the scheme "They Think It's All Rover", in a reference to England's World Cup final win over Germany in 1966.

Workers with a voucher can place a free £5 bet on either the result of the game or the first scorer at local bookies.

Vouchers detailing the offer, T-shirts and leaflets were being handed out at the Birmingham plant on Thursday.

Patriotism

A Coral spokesman said: "The take-up has been good. It's been well-received by the workers at Longbridge.

"After that, it's really a case of wait and see. We're patriotic.

"It could cost us a lot of money but we'd pay up with pride."

Last month, BMW sold Rover to the Phoenix consortium for a notional £10 in a complicated arrangement which saw Land Rover sold separately to Ford.