Exclusive: Danny Baker On Gazza
Evans & Five Bellies Back Their Pal
Robson: �Hoddle Got It Wrong'
Exclusive: Andy Gray On Gazza
He Wasn't Fit Says Hoddle
Moment Hoddle Ended Gazza's World
Hoddle On The Other Five
Expert's Fears For His Health
'He Missed Bus' Claim
England Drift In Betting
Our Survey Says 'UH-UURRR'
Our Survey Says 'Yes, Glenn'
365 For And Against
World Cup Friendlies
World Cup Countdown
Premiership Round-up
Division One Round-up
Division Three Round-up
Division Two Round-up
Bollocks!
Today's TV Listings
Trivia
Real Reasons Why Gazza Was Dropped
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Tuesday 02 June 1998
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 News 8 
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PREMIERSHIP NEWS ROUND-UP
SIR JOHN QUITS AS NEWCASTLE CHIEF
Sir John Hall is to step down as chairman of Newcastle for the second time after winning last week's boardroom power struggle. The millionaire businessman returned to St James' Park in the wake of the resignations of former chairman Freddie Shepherd and former vice-chairman Douglas Hall, and his departure follows last week's shake-up which saw company chairman Sir Terence Harrison and non-executive director John Mayo quit.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange, the company said it planned to meet to consider the structure and complement of both the PLC and the football club boards immediately after new appointments were in place. That raised speculation that Shepherd and Hall Jnr were soon to make comebacks of their own after resigning over newspaper allegations that they made derogatory comments about the club's fans, local women, England skipper Alan Shearer and manager Kenny Dalglish.
ASTON VILLA
Mark Bosnich could link up with Fabio Capello next season the only drawback being that the Italian coach doesn't have a job at the moment! Capello was sacked recently by AC Milan, but is a long-term admirer of the Australian goalkeeper. Bosnich's manager, Leo Karis, said: Capello has always had an eye on him and indicated that wherever he takes a coaching position he will still be interested in Mark.
But while Bosnich ponders his future, midfielder Mark Draper looks set to end speculation by signing a new contract. The 27-year-old midfielder has consistently been tipped as a target for a number of Premiership clubs, notably Everton, but is now ready to sit down with boss John Gregory and thrash out a new deal.
BLACKBURN
Kevin Davies completed his �7.25m move to Ewood Park yesterday and immediately set his sights on silverware and England honours. The Under 21 striker signed a seven-year contract at Ewood Park just 12 months after Southampton boss Dave Jones paid Chesterfield �700,000 for him and said: I'm very ambitious and I hope that playing with Blackburn might also improve my chances of playing for England.
COVENTRY
The Sky Blues have missed out in their bid to sign 21-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger Boudewijn Zenden Chairman Bryan Richardson said: We had been trailing him for some time and after negotiating with his agent I thought we had got him. But then we were told he had decided to join Barcelona.
EVERTON
Injured midfielder Joe Parkinson is hoping for an all-clear to increase his training programme following a meeting with his surgeon who performed knee surgery. He explained: Hopefully when I see him again he'll tell me I can step it up. The surgeon's pleased with the progress I've made already.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Philip Mulrayne is aiming to use his international breakthrough as a stepping stone towards gaining a regular place in the Old Trafford line-up. The youngster, in Santander for Northern Ireland's friendly against Spain, said: I am hoping to get more games in the club tour of Norway.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Manager Dave Bassett has joined Southampton and Derby in chasing Tottenham's out-of-contract star David Howells. He revealed: David is a player who is on my list and I know what he can do. That is about all there is to it at this stage.
Meanwhile City Ground trio Ian Woan, Ian Moore and Dave Beasant are all due in hospital for routine knee operations over the next few weeks.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Midfielder Jim Magilton is looking forward to life without Ron Atkinson at Hillsborough. He admitted: Before Ron went, I was going to have to go through the summer not knowing what would happen to me. Would I still be at Sheffield Wednesday next year or wouldn't I? I know the answer if Ron had stayed would have been no. The fact Ron has left could be fortunate for me. Now I have a spring in my step and fingers crossed things are on the up.
SOUTHAMPTON
Chairman Robert Lowe has revealed the real reason that Kevin Davies was sold to Blackburn for �7.5 million The Dell is too small! He said: We are unable to generate as much money as our Premiership rivals and that will remain the case all the while we are waiting for a new stadium. In the end it was an offer we could not refuse and all the money will be used to strengthen our own playing squad."
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DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP
BIRMINGHAM CITY
The Blues are set to complete negotiations with manager Trevor Francis about a new two-year contract at St. Andrew's. Talks have been delayed while Francis has been on an end-of-season break and been commentating on England's World Cup warm-up games. The club have also offered new deals to Francis's two assistants, Mick Mills and Frank Barlow, and the club's fitness coach, Arvel Lowe.
Meanwhile, the club should discover next weekend whether Steve Bruce will be staying or joining Norwich as manager.
BRISTOL CITY
Chairman Scott Davidson will fly home to the West Country today having looked over the second new striker the club hopes to sign in a month. Davidson flew out to Denmark on Monday to watch �1m-rated Soren Anderson play for his club Alborg against Copenhagen.
BURY
Stan Ternent has stunned the club by quitting to take over as manager of struggling Burnley. He replaces Chris Waddle and takes assistant Sam Ellis with him to the Second Division outfit. Ternent said: I have enjoyed my time with Bury but Burnley was the club I first joined as a schoolboy and it may be my last.
NORWICH CITY
The Canaries have received a double boost, with three of their star youngsters agreeing to sign new contracts and season ticket sales passing the �1m mark. Andy Marshall, Darren Kenton and Chris Llewellyn have all agreed new terms, while more than 7,000 season tickets have already been snapped up.
PORTSMOUTH
Pompey are planning to move reserve team football from Fratton Park in an effort to preserve the playing surface for Alan Ball's side next season. They are holding talks with Havant & Waterlooville and Bognor Regis about playing reserve matches at one of their grounds.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
The Blades could lose Chris Short under the Bosman ruling. The versatile defender is out-of-contract this summer and, although he's been offered a new deal at Bramall Lane, he is thinking over a move to Second Division Stoke City.
SWINDON TOWN
Manager Steve McMahon will complete his third summer signing when Bournemouth goalkeeper Jimmy Glass puts pen to paper in a fortnight's time. McMahon has persuaded the 24-year-old to quit Dean Court for the County Ground on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling. Glass will team-up with other new boys Gareth Hall, from Sunderland, and Adam Willis, from Coventry, when he returns from holiday.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Manager Denis Smith is convinced that Frank Nuttall and Nick Worth will be valuable additions to his backroom team at the Hawthorns. Nuttall has joined Albion as the club's first ever fitness coach and diet specialist, while physiotherapist Worth has moved from Burnley.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Teenage right back Ryan Green stands on the threshold of making football history for Wales this week. Green, 17, who has yet to make his first-team debut for Wolves, links up with the senior Welsh squad for the games with Malta and Tunisia. If he should play in either game he will become the youngest player ever to make a senior appearance for Wales.
DIVISION TWO
ROUND-UP
COLCHESTER UNITED
The U's have arranged to play Premiership newcomers Charlton Athletic in a pre-season friendly on July 29. The match has been arranged as part of the deal which took midfielder Mark Kinsella to the Valley from Layer Road. Manager Steve Wignall said: It's suddenly turned into a massive game with us both winning at Wembley and everyone is looking forward to it.
MANCHESTER CITY
Joe Royle is placing his faith in youth to get City back into Division One. Teenagers Nick Fenton, Alan Bailey, Nick Weaver and Gary Mason are earmarked to force their way into the first team next season. The Maine Road boss said: I will throw down the gauntlet to youth next season. I'm expecting big things from some of them.
READING
Chief executive Nigel Howe has denied reports that former England rugby coach Jack Rowell is to become a director at the club. Speculation had suggested that chairman John Madejski had offered Rowell the chance to join the board. But Howe said: Jack was a regular visitor last season and gets on well with everyone here but there are no immediate plans to put him on the board.
WALSALL
The Saddlers are still waiting to discover whether they have a chance of signing Port Vale's Martin Foyle. The striker has been linked with a possible move to Bescot to link-up with new manager Ray Graydon as player-coach , but he has also been offered a new deal by Vale boss John Rudge.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Striker David Carroll and defender Steve Brown have both agreed new deals to stay at Adams Park. Carroll, the club's longest-serving player, has signed a new two-year contract, and Brown has put pen to paper on a similar deal. Meanwhile two of boss Neil Smillie's former youth team players have also been given extensions. Mo Harking has signed for three years and Alan Beeton for two.
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DIVISION THREE
ROUND-UP
CARDIFF CITY
Physio Jimmy Goodfellow has been recruited by Wales manager Bobby Gould. Goodfellow was among the party that left yesterday for the matches in Malta and Tunisia. It's good to have Jimmy with us, said Gould. He is highly experienced, has already been a great help and fits in perfectly'.
CHESTER
Midfielder Shaun Reid will be hoping to make up for lost time when the new season kicks-off in August. A cruciate ligament injury sidelined the former Bury battler for the whole of last season but he is now on the road to recovery. Manager Kevin Ratcliffe said: Shaun's recovery has been amazing and we should have him back in good shape for the new campaign.
DARLINGTON
The Quakers look likely to lose out in the chase for striker Marco Gabbiadini. The former Derby star has been released by York City but is expected to sign for Scunthorpe United.
EXETER CITY
Manager Peter Fox has scheduled a meeting with Burnley full back Chris Vinnicombe for next week. Fox is hoping to persuade the 27-year-old former Exeter player to return home when his contract at Turf Moor expires this month. Fox said: I know there are number of other clubs interested but I have fixed up a meeting with Chris for next Monday .
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Manager Barry Fry has had talks with Charlton defender Phil Chapple about a possible move. The former Cambridge centre-half, who started 33 games last season, has been released by the Premiership newcomers. Fry said: There's no doubt Phil played a big part in Charlton's promotion to the Premiership, but he's waiting a few weeks to see what happens.
ROTHERHAM UNITED
The Millers hope to welcome defender Vance Warner back from injury for the start of pre-season training in July. He was troubled by cartilage problems last term but will spend part of the summer working with club physio Ian Bailey on his rehabilitation. Manager Ronnie Moore said: Hopefully he will be fit for July 1 when we come back for pre-season.
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