Football: LAST ORDERS; Everton tell Gazza: One mistake and you are out.

PAUL GASCOIGNE will have his contract ripped up if he steps out of line at Everton.

That was the stark warning from club owner and vice-chairman Bill Kenwright yesterday as he welcomed the new signing to Goodison Park.

The man who put together a consortium to buy Everton six months ago has taken steps to protect himself and the club just in case Gazza repeats some of the wayward antics which forced his former boss at Middlesbrough, Bryan Robson, to admit yesterday that signing him had been a mistake.

Kenwright admitted the free transfer capture was potentially a massive bargain but also acknowledged the dark side of Gazza which has seen the player make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

He admitted he was not entirely convinced about the former England midfielder and had get-out clauses inserted in his contract.

Kenwright said: "There had to be contractual stipulations that had to be met, and they were not just financial.

"There are provisions in there to protect the club because we know what all the circumstances are in this deal.

"Let's face it, how can you be convinced about Gazza? But you just have to say to yourself 'Can I do this transfer or can I not do it'. The truth is, I couldn't not do it."

Gazza has taken a pay cut to join Everton after signing a two-year deal that - at pounds 20,000 a week - he is on almost pounds 10,000 a week less than his Boro salary.

But Everton have made doubly sure of their investment by inserting clauses in his contract which state that if he breaks any of the club's strict codes of conduct, then they can rip up the document without any compensation to the player.

That includes any bouts of absence from training or any of the alcoholic excesses that drove him into a clinic for his drinking problems two years ago.

Gascoigne will also have to tone down the pranks that he has famously pulled off over the years - such as stealing the team bus at Middlesbrough.

Kenwright has held lengthy talks with Gascoigne in an attempt to make him fully aware of his responsibilities at the club, and to try to get him to improve his behaviour.

The pair talked for hours over the weekend and Kenwright drummed into him Everton's famous traditions.

"I have spelled out to him about what playing for Everton really means and what the fans here are looking for," he said. "The great Gazza can supply that, but the other Gazza can break the hearts of our supporters."

Everton will insist that Gazza curtails his frequent jaunts to London and they are likely to ask him to live out of the centre of Liverpool, close to manager Walter Smith.