The Guardian du lieu suivant : London, Greater London, England • 36

4 Tlie Guardian Saturday May 272000 Sport Nationwide play-offs as Dark DKRte Posh All bets are off as Wembley beckons Gills again Jon Brodkin Gillingham's chairman Paul Scally would like to make two things clear before tomorrow's play-off final: yes, he is delighted to be back and no, he wouldn't dream of betting on his side to win. A year ago Scally watched in shock as Gillingham threw away a two-goal lead against Manchester City to miss out on promotion. Then he was charged (H months later) by the Football Association with betting on that match. The case has still to be heard. He denies misconduct a charge brought about by a mischievous allegation in a local newspaper who were banned from our stadium over a year ago," he insists) and although it took him a month to recover from losing to City on penalties he is excited at taking on Wigan.

Never have Gillingham escaped the league's bottom two tiers. "There can be no better way to get promoted than to win at Wembley," he says. "Last year was a harsh lesson in not counting your chickens. But it's prepared us well because no one wants to suffer that torment again." Maybe not, but Gillingham lost the final game of the season when a win would have sealed promotion. With that kind of record, it's no wonder Scally won't be betting on this one.

Almost 50,000 Gillingham fans will be at Wembley. Tony Fawthrop has resigned as Bristol City's manager after only 20 days in the job. He goes after it emerged that the 57-year-old Yorkshireman is director of a failed vehicle-hire company owing more than 200,000, although he insists he is no more than a sleeping director. Gillingham (probable; 4-4-21: Battram; Pennock, Ashby, Butters, Edge: Soulhall. Hessenthaler, Lewis, Gooden; Onuora, Asaba.

Wigan Athletic (probable: 3-5-21: Carroll; McGibbon, Griffiths, Balmer; Green.Redfeam. Sheridan, Peron, Sharp; Haworth, Liddell. four defeats in their final 26 games gave them a momentum that defied the logic of Darlington's superiority. "If you don't score goals you can't win games," said the Darlington manager David Hodgson, who saw his own hopes of satisfying the ambitions of the coldurful owner-chairman George Reynolds ambushed by ineffectiveness in April. Hodgson then paid tribute to the man in the opposite corner.

"Barry Fry is a wonderful man with a wonderful attitude to life and football, and if anyone deserves this then it's Barry for the type of character he is. Despite the disappointment of defeat I am delighted for him personally." As Darlington poured their aggression into the contest and made light of the conditions through their ability to get the ball forward quickly and to a white shirt, Peterborough were forced to fall back on dogged defence. In the first 30 seconds Marco Gabbiadini glanced a header wide and the confidence in Hodgson's team grew from there. Gabbiadini and Neil Heaney saw shots deflected just wide. In the 27th minute Peter Duffield expertly cushioned a header before seeing a volley diverted on to a post.

Five minutes into the second half Clarke, the former Wimbledon winger whose pace had always offered Peterborough hope, nearly squeezed home a shot having got the better of Neil Aspin. Sixty seconds before his goal he went round the keeper only to be denied by a remarkable recovery tackle. Then, when Ritchie Hanlon nodded the ball on, Clarke, fractionally onside, saw his first attempt repelled by Andy Collett before ramming home the rebound. At that Fry was up and running all the way to the Second Division. Darlington (4-4-21: Collett; Liddle.

Mill. Aspin, Heckingbottom; Oliver. Gray. Atkinson. Heaney: Gabbiadini.

Duffield. Peterborough (4-4- 2): Tyler Scott. Edwards, Rea. Drury (Hanlon 43): Farrell, Cullen, Castle, Jelleyman: Clarke. Oldfield.

Referee: Dean(Heswall). Trevor Haylett at Wembley Darlington 0 Peterborough United 1 Clarke 74 It was more splish-splosh than style and strategy but Peterborough, having ridden their luck through a first half in which they were decidedly second best, turned the spring tide to make their return to the Second Division. The winner, which arrived with 16 minutes remaining, drew a typical response from the Peterborough bench. Barry Fry, risking the wrath of officialdom not to say dangerous repercussions to a famously overworked heart, celebrated with a characteristic sprint along the touchline, right fist thrust in triumph. For a manager whose own supporters wanted him out at Christmas the pleasure from Andy Clarke's marksmanship was in no doubt.

"I've always said that I am a crap manager but I'm also a lucky manager and today said it all," said Fry. "I haven't slept for a month worrying about this game and I won't sleep for another month because! can't quite believe it happened." Darlington had contributed so much to the occasion it was hard not to feel sorry for them. At the start, with Wembley refusing to absorb any more rainfall and spewing out puddles to pockmark this hallowed piece of turf, there was only one team in contention and it was not those who had been on the receiving end of Fry's special powers of motivation all week. As the ball struggled to travel even its circumference, one feared for the well-being of the Brazilian maestros who must follow in the footsteps of Clarke and co this afternoon, but the heavens relented and permitted the unfolding of a contest remarkably skilful in the circumstances. Peterborough have endured a bizarre campaign.

Top of the table in November, they fell to 10th within a month but only Wigan's John Bond bids farewell to the Lancashire club tomorrow, but not by choice Photograph: Don McPhee Biryasedl Bound's ego sttBIlD DnnttacH: ders with. They'll appoint someone because he was a good player. What nonsense. What utter, utter nonsense." His anger threatens to boil over as he laments his exile from the big time, only mellowing once his mind is turned to his final fling in the arena he once thought was his own. "I thought my days of that had gone and passed with the centenary Cup final," he says.

"I've not been back since but I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be massive, massive, massive, as big as Manchester United against Real Madrid." The Wigan public, who have bought only 8,500 tickets, would appear to disagree, but Bond is entitled to hyperbole. It is his last shot at the big time and he is determined to milk it. TV: Live on Sky Sports 2 from 2pm tomorrow a prominent member of the furry coat brigade, complete with garish jewellery and foot-long cigars, that was courted by City around that time. But if he was ahead of his time then, he is now considered a relic of a bygone era.

Bond was once linked with the top jobs at Manchester United and Benfica, but somehow it never quite worked out for him. After an acrimonious departure from Maine Road in 1983 he took in Burnley and Shrewsbury Town before a spell at Witton Albion during what he calls his "five years in the whither he will reluctantly return after tomorrow's Second Division play-off final against Gillingham. The most refreshing thing about him-is his frankness. Even at the age of 67 he clearly believes he deserves better job, but I've never gone after anyone else's job in my life." The one person who did offer him a job last summer was John Benson, his assistant at Norwich City and Manchester City all those years ago. Benson will stand aside as Wigan's manager after the play-off final, with the former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson his likely replacement.

With Benson moving "upstairs" Bond will be surplus to requirements, and he recognises why he again faces the prospect of unemployment. "I've always antagonised a fair amount of people," he says. "They don't like people who speak the truth. I just say what I think is the truth and if that's being outspoken then, yes. I was outspoken.

"It seems these days they are more interested in appointing someone they can rub shoul than to be a peripheral member of the coaching staff at Wigan Athletic. "I think it's very sad when people like me are out of the game," he says, with no attempt to hide his bitterness. "When you go to clubs these days you realise they need people like me. Hardly any good coaching, what I call proper coaching, goes on. You look at these young coaches and you wouldn't believe some of the mistakes they make.

"I know I'm older and that the movements aren't the same now, but I can still coach. For what it's worth, Ron Atkinson reckoned I was the best coach he had ever seen apart from Dave Sexton. When you're talked about in those terms, it's sad when people won't use you. I think managers are frightened to death of me. They think I'm after their Wigan coach in line voice for Wembley swansong Oliver Kay His hair may have gone a whiter shade of grey, his belt loosened a notch or two and his old swagger curtailed by time, but John Bond remains an unmistakable figure.

As he saunters back to Wembley tomorrow for his first return in 19 years he will doubtless reflect that he is back where he belongs. Bond, if your memory needs jogging, was Manchester City's larger-than-life manager in the 1981 FA Cup final. He was i i Scottish Cup Leighton steps off roller coaster final Jim Leighton: 'I know how bad Leighton has been bewildered by Aberdeen's ventures this season. From being one of the best teams in Europe during the bulk of the 1980s, their deterioration has been witnessed at first hand by Leighton. He, after all, has had to collect the ball from the back of the net 83 times this season in the league.

That is a record for the club, who finished bottom with 33 final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park. Dick Advocaat's team are a best-priced 4-11 with the Tote to win outright. But they can be backed at a more attractive 8-11 with Coral to be ahead at half- and full-time. A 3-0 scorcline in Rangers' favour is on offer at 8-1 with Coral. Aberdeen are a top-priced 15-2 to win the match with Chandler, and Stan James is quoting 7-2 about a draw after 90 minutes.

England, currently a best-priced 11-1 with Surrey to win Euro 2000, face a stern test in today's friendly against Brazil. The hosts are available at 9-4 with Heathorns, which is offering 11-5 about a draw. But Brazil's three goals in 10 minutes against Wales on Tuesday were a reminder of their thrilling ability to raise their game. A win for Brazil looks the most likely at 7-5 with Eurobet or 6-5 with Chandler. Gillingham are capable of winning tomorrow's Second bad we have been," he says.

"The decline probably began in the early 90s and reached its nadir this season. "What has made it more absurd is that we have reached the finals of both cups and are guaranteed a place in Europe next season irrespective of the outcome against Rangers." Leighton has taken small comfort from this. "I'm a realist. Our ventures in the cup competitions have only papered over the cracks. Had we played in the cups as badly as we did in our earlier league matches we wouldn't have reached the final." But though he can understand the logic behind the bookmakers offering 11-2 against Aberdeen the longest ever for a finalist he honestly believes he can collect a fifth winner's medal.

"I know it is a cliche to say that we have everything to gain and nothing to lose but that really is the situation. If ever a club was under pressure it is Rangers." TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 today, kick-off 3pm Premiership and can make their experience count at 6-5 with Coral. Tennis The Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, proven on clay and in a rich vein of form, is a best-priced 6-1 favourite with Ladbrokes to win the men's title in the French Open which begins on Monday. Ladbrokes, not renowned for its generosity, appeared to have slipped up this week when it quoted Andre Agassi successful in the Australian Open in January and at Roland Garros 12 months ago at 14-1. The American has since been cut to 8-1 and Ladbrokes claims to have "hefty liabilities" at the bigger price.

The fast-improving Russian Marat Safin, runner-up to Kuerten in the German Open, looks attractively priced at 14-1 with Coral, though the bookies are, as usual where tennis is concerned, paying only half the odds a place on the first two. Dennis Sherriffs The roller-coaster ride is almost over. Jim Leighton's colourful career between the sticks will finally end after today's Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park. Earlier this week the 41-ycar-old Aberdeen keeper decided to hang up his gloves and become the club's first full-time goalkeeping coach. "1 had mulled over retirement for a while and deckled this was the ideal time," lie says.

It is appropriate that Scotland's national stadium will be the venue for Leighton's final game. Next to his club's Pitto-drie ground, where he has spent 16 years in all, it has been his most regular haunt. Those who thought that his initial return to Dundee and then Hibernian after his stint at Manchester United heralded the demise of his career were wrong. He confounded everyone by re-establishing himself in the Scotland team. Yet for someone who made 91 appearances for S.cotland, The Odds Fellouj JamieReid mm mm mm mm Rely on Rangers to go all the way Real Madrid, tipped to win the Champions League final at 5-6, and Chelsea, tipped to win the FA Cup at 5-4, have been short-odds winners for us in the past week.

And favourite-backers should be in the money once again if they stick with Rangers in this afternoon's Scottish Cup lt 1 IS we have been' Michael Cooper points 57 behind today's championship-winning opponents. It was the worst defensive record of any senior team in Britain and they avoided possible relegation via playoffs with two First Division sides only when it was deemed that the ground of one of them, Falkirk, who finished third, did not meet Premier League standards. "I know only too well how Division play-off against Wigan at Wembley at evens with Coral and Heathorns. And those of us who have backed Ipswich to win the First Division play-offs will be hoping they can beat Barnsley in 90 minutes on Monday at 11-8 with Stanley. Rugby Union Munster are as short as 8-13 with Coral to win today's Heinekcn Cup final against Northampton at Twickenham.

The Irish side produced a couple of inspired performances against Toulouse and Stade Francais in the semifinal and quarter-final, and at odds-against they would have been worth backing today. But, with Munster at odds-on, the value has swung back in favour of their opponents, who will be returning to the pitch where they narrowly lost to Wasps in the Tetley's Bitter Cup final. Northampton will miss their scrum-half Matt Dawson but will be keen to make up for a disappointing finish in the.