GEORGE MICHAEL - GEORGE MICHAEL HIRES OLD MANAGER

GEORGE MICHAEL is reteaming with his former manager MICHAEL LIPPMAN, in a bid to rediscover the success he enjoyed in his 1980s heyday.

Michael and Lippman went their separate ways in 1990 after the latter had steered Michael through his greatest period of success - most notably his 1988 Grammy-winning album FAITH which sold 10 million copies in America alone.

Michael's career has waned since - his 2004 album PATIENCE sold just 373,000 copies in the US - so he's turning to Lippman once again.

Lippman says, "We want to conquer the world as we did in the past.

"He's excited and inspired to run the gauntlet. I don't think he would have said to me, 'I want to look at the world and be out there playing my music,' if he didn't want to do it again."

Lippman hints Michael may fulfil the promise he made after Patience's release - to distribute any further albums on the internet.

He adds, "He's watching technology change, and he's been reinvigorated in letting people hear his music."