The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Wednesday May 31 1989 Tennis Drugs A dark day ffoir Noah Doctor refuses to name his steroid supplier 18 SPORTS NEWS David Irvlna In Paris Richard Raynolda In Toronto lives with the other two children. "It's a matter of security for yourself and your family that's what you're saying?" said Dubin. "Not for myself but for my wife and children in Toronto," Astaphan said. Astaphan had earlier claimed that he received 48 bottles of the steroid Estragol, also called furazabol, from the East German in exchange for bottles of injectable, concentrated vitamins. He also refused to name a Canadian athlete whom he claimed was involved in the drug deal, indicating that "that was where the threat came from, the The Canadian had delivered the bottles without labels, Astaphan claimed.

"They were all stuck together 48 labels one on top of the other." In earlier testimony the commission heard suggestions that the bottles did not contain Estragol, as claimed by Astaphan, but stanozolol, the drug found JAMIE ASTAPHAN, doctor to the disqualified Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, yesterday refused to name an East German athlete who supposedly provided him with steroids, saying he "feared for the safety of my wife and Astaphan, testifying for the fifth day at the Canadian government inquiry into drug use in amateur sport, was being aggressively questioned by Julian Porter, a lawyer representing the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the body which regulates doctors in Canada. The presiding judge, Charles Dubin, warned Astaphan that refusing to name the East German would "affect your The doctor lives in his native St Kitts with his younger son while his estranged wife Karen in Johnson's failed urine test at the Olympic Games in Seoul. Throughout his five days on the stand the doctor has maintained he did not give Johnson the stanozolol that was detected in routine testing and led to the sprinter's downfall. In other evidence, late on Monday, Astaphan refused to name the 32 "high-level" athletes, from at least 12 countries, that he said had come to him for advice on steroid use. The list included two "track and field athletes from When the doctor was pressed to give the names, Dubin ruled that he did not have to answer.

When Porter resumed questioning Astaphan yesterday morning, he asked sarcastically about Astaphan's earlier reference to the Hippocratic oath. During last week's testimony the doctor had claimed he was duty-bound, under the oath, to help athletes use steroids. "I thought it was my responsibility to do this," he said earlier. "If I didn't give it to them, they'd get it elsewhere." The lawyer asked: "Where's the part in the oath about helping athletes cheat?" The line about "to the best of my ability and said Astaphan. "According to my ability and judgment it was preventive medicine.

I wanted them not to get sick. They would harm themselves if I didn't treat them." Federation, who normally soak up 90 per cent of her earnings, will not be making a fortune out of her this week. Last year, at 17, she collected 75,000 by defeating both Martina Navratilova and Helena Sukova to reach women's final. Yesterday, seeded third, she lost 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 to Italy's Raf-faella Reggi in round one, receiving a paltry 2,000. C'est la vie.

Rumour has it that when she returned to Minsk after declaring, on playing the final of last month's Hilton Head event, worth 15,000, that she intended to keep every red cent, she was told in no uncertain terms that, if she maintained that attitude, she would no longer be allowed out of the country. A retraction quickly followed "Maybe I didn't give it enough thought," she apparently said but after yesterday's loss, her fourth in five matches, she hinted that she would have something significant to say on the subject in the next 24 hours. Andrei Chesnokov, her compatriot, said recently he would happily settle for 30 per cent of his winnings but Zvereva still evidently feels that the Soviet players should be treated as all other professionals. Asked if he agents were in discussion with her federation, Zvereva said no. "They are dis-cussioning by themselves." Her next public statement is awaited with interest.

She dismissed rumours that she might quit the game. "I love tennis. That's my hobby, my job, my life. It would be hard for me to think of stopping." But her distress at losing so quickly after last year's performance was evident. As to her loss, she played as though she had other things on her mind.

Yet she seemed to feel hard done by in the tie- Howland back after steroid ban THE SUN, literally and metaphorically, went in at the French Open yesterday. As dark clouds gathered and the temperature dipped, Yannick Noah champion in 1983 and the host nation's most consistently successful player in the post-war era failed to survive the opening round for the first time in 12 years when he lost 7-6, 6-4, 6-7. 6-4 to Luis Mattar of Brazil. It was a sad Inish to Noah's 50th singles at the championships, the more so as his Davis Cup colleague, Henri Leconte, runner-up last year, is missing this year after undergoing a recent back operation. Noah knew he was taking a chance.

Knee and back problems have kept him off the circuit for a month and Mattar, one of a growing army of South Americans who live for the clay-court season, was just too sharp and accurate. In the men's event, players seemed as much at risk off the court as they are on it. Following the withdrawal of the tenth seed, Kent Carlsson, on Monday, Spain's Emilio Sanchez, in 12th place, also pulled out. The favourites acquitted themselves well, however. Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Roberto Mancini all advanced in straight sets with the West German positively brimming with confidence.

"My approach to clay is different now," he said, "because of the matches I've won. In tennis, confidence and the way you think is 85 per cent of it. Now I'm more patient, I serve a little better, and when I'm on break points I'm not rushing any more." At least Natalia Zvereva can console herself that the Soviet Cyeling 7 tested positive for steroids in Belfast on July 20, 1987. Rick Pannell, the general manager of Athletics Australia, the country's governing body for the sport, said Howland was eligible to compete again as of July 20 and could, if fit, be selected for the Commonwealth Games in Auckland. for his first exit in the first round in Pans in 12 years Fifteen-year-old Yugoslav sitting target High and dry Noah heading as jeu decisif under a new no-English rule governing umpires) when, in a disputed call, she claimed the line-judge used the wrong mark.

"Maybe I've not been working enough," she admitted. "Raffaella's a big fighter and never lets anyone win easily." Hana Mandlikova, playing in her fortieth grand slam against the first-timer, Andrea Vieira, an 18-year-old from Brazil, was SUE HOWLAND, the Australian javelin thrower, will be reinstated as an eligible athlete six weeks after serving a two-year ban following a positive test for steroids. Howland, a gold medal winner at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982, Soccer Wales a David Lacsy WELSH supporters simply will not stand for a West German victory in the World Cup qualifier at Cardiff Arms Park tonight, but this has more to do with yesterday's ruling by Fifa that the terraces must be closed, to avoid the risk of pitch invasions, than any revival of confidence in Terry Yorath's team. The chances of Wales qualifying for Italy next summer, always slim once they found themselves in a four-nation group with West Germany and Holland, have been further reduced by the point dropped at home to Finland last October. But the Welsh with whom Yorath yesterday agreed a new three-year contract to continue as part-time manager can still have a say in who goes through because the winners alone qualify automatically from this section and the country finishing second joins them only if it is one of the two best runners-up from the three four-nation groups.

If West Germany win in Car Reynolds takes a lead from his dad some webbing on my fingers." Reynolds did not feel confident of staying clear, he said, until he rounded the last bend with 500 metres remaining. "It was a headwind all the way into the finish, and I expected a group of riders would bridge the gap and join me to share the work. When I realised I was clear by myself, I just put my head down and tried to forget about the cramp which was starting to set in." And his tactics on today's 94-mile stage from Gloucester to Llandrindod Wells? "I've got to make sure I am in the front group approaching the climbs, Boxing Graham Snowdon In Bristol KEITH REYNOLDS, making his debut in the event, evoked memories of the first Milk Race when he claimed the overall race leadership, crossing the line alone at the end of the 121-mile headwind stage from Bournemouth to Bristol. The 25-year-old professional PMS-Falcon team rider from Birmingham made a break with 11 miles remaining and built up a40seclead. His father, Harry, had held Athletics Harris heads back Whit bread out McGuigan back into the heat John Rodda on the former champion's toughest comeback test so far diff, and Holland fail to match the Germans' 4-0 victory in Finland, the Dutch will have their work cut out to avoid finishing second.

Denmark's recent burst of form in Group One the 2-0 win in Bulgaria and 7-1 rout of Greece and the fact that in Group Two Sweden have so far dropped just one point and are second to England only on goal difference has done nothing to lessen the tension. A win for Wales tonight would not only keep their own hopes alive but also further complicate the runners-up situation. However, a Welsh victory will be a surprise and a draw no mean achievement. West Germany are without Matthaus, their captain, who is suspended, but will still field most of the players who drew 1-1 in Holland last month. Wales have never defeated 3 1 A Oarmny NeUMrindaL.

1 2 2 Finland 2 0 1 1 2 6 1 REMAININO FIXTURES- Sept 8 Finland Wales. Oct 4 West Germany Finland; 11 Wales Netherlands: Nov 1 West Germany Walas; IS Netherlands Finland. ALLAN HARRIS, Terry Venables's assistant at Tottenham, is likely to accept a job as coach to the Spanish club Espanol in the next few weeks. "It looks like I'll be saying farewell to Tottenham. Espanol have offered me the job, they have spoken to Spurs' chairman and I'm keen to accept the challenge," Harris said yesterday.

"I've had some very good times with Terry but deep down I have always fancied trying it as the No. 1 somewhere," added the 46-year-old Harris, who was also assistant to Venables at Crystal Palace, Queen's Park Rangers and Espanol's more illustrious neighbours Barcelona. "The job and the circumstances had to be right. This Mackay's THE Blackburn Rovers manager, Don Mackay, has found a novel way of relaxing his players before tonight's Second Division playoff final first leg against Crystal Palace at Ewood Park. He tore ankle ligaments in training (writes Ian Ridley).

"There was a lot of tension in the air until the players saw me hobbling about. I have been trying every way possible to get the players relaxed and I must admit this training accident seems to have done the trick," said Mackay, who has a fully fit squad of 17 available. Palace, who will have Gavin Nebbeling back after suspension, will hope to avoid a repetition of the League match at Ewood when they lost 54 after break (now omcially referred to the yellow jersey in the 1958 Milk Race. Reynolds jnr was 35sec ahead as he passed the line to start a finishing circuit of just over two miles, and held off a chasing pack of 65 riders byjustlSsec. His display was all the more impressive because he was nursing two badly cut fingers, after catching them in his front wheel the previous day while adjusting his onboard computer.

"They are very painful, especially when I am pulling on my handlebars as I climb," he said. "The doctor cut off several flaps of loose skin, and put pean team at the World Cup in Barcelona, which is in early September. These she must now be counting as lost, but that first throw at Thurrock will at least save any arguments over her selection for the Commonwealth Games in Auckland next January. The England women selectors have laid down a standard of 60 metres and it is unlikely that a third competitor, to go with the two automatically selected at the national championships, will have achieved that distance consistently. Whitbread, therefore, can take the spare place.

She will no doubt be keen to win in Auckland to exorcise that scene of petulance she created at Edinburgh four years ago when Tessa Sanderson beat her into the silver-medal position. Whitbread sat a sulking loser, until she was ushered away by an official. "It's another blow but I hope to be back in action at the season's end and will definitely be fully fit for the Commonwealth Games in Auckland at the start of next year," Whitbread said. pet at her undisciplined worst and, having held a 2-0 lead in the final set, still managed to lose 6-7, 6-1, 4. As the last player to beat the favourite, Steffi Graf, in Paris (they were due to meet in round four) it was a result the tournament could have done without but Mandlikova, though her enthusiasm is allegedly restored, seems to be paying the penalty for too long an absence.

where any split is likely to occur. I'm not a particularly good climber, but fortunately the Welsh hills this time don't look quite as hard as they have been in previous years." He had a lead this morning of 17sec over Steve Joughin, the British professional road race champion, whose one-second bonus for third place splits him from Tim Harris, the Raleigh-Banana captain. Joughin's team-mate Jon Walshaw, the previous leader, came in lmin 41sec down yesterday and plummets to 67th place overall. Jesus Saurez-Cuevas, a Spaniard with the Zahor team, took he would, wouldn't he? He says he is as enthusiastic as ever to hold a world title. The Irishman's reputation as an entertainer in the ring is built in part on his courage.

There were roars of approval when he stopped his first two opponents after the Cruz debacle in four rounds and only a little hesitation in the reception when he beat Julio Miranda of Argentina in eight rounds last December. But in all those fights McGuigan was getting caught in a way in which he cannot possibly afford against a man like Azumah Nelson, a world champion. McGuigan's eagerness to command the offensive stance has put him into those positions where he tends to trade punches something he can ill afford to do tonight against a man who is far quicker and one suspects more learned in boxing ways than any of the trio McGui tova (Cz) 6-2. 6-1; aoUrsa (II) bt Pratt (WG) 6-3. 6-4: La Fratta (It) bt Fernandez (US) 6-2.

6-0: Amlach (Fr) bt Us-kova (Cz) 3-6, 6-1. 7-5: Madvadava (USSR) bt McQuillan (Aus) 3-6. 6-3, 6-2; Paulua (Aut) bl Cecchinl (It) 1-6. 6-4, 6-t; Martin (US) bt Adams (US) 7-6. 7-6; Raggl (It) bt Zvereva (USSR) 3-6, 7-6.

6-2; OHUemaUtar (Chile) bl Probst (WG) 6-4. 6-3: WenM (US) bt Byrne (Aus) 6-2, 6-7, 7-5: J-A Fault (Aus) bl Sulre (Fr) 6-1. 6-2: Paepialleva (Cz) bt Kraicovi-cova (Cz) 6-0. 6-2; MarUnai (Sp) bl Herr (US) 6-3. 6-2: Ralnaeh (SA) bt Schlmper (SA) 6-3, 6-3: I Demongeot (Fr) bt Paz (Arg) 6-3.

7-5; Ouerrea (Fr) bl I Budarova (Cz) 6-7, 7-5, 6-1: Fufco (Arg) bt Ritter (Aut) 7-5, 6-7. 6-6: Salea (Yug) bt Rels (US) 6-4. 6-1; BJoana (US) bt Cunning-bam (US) 6-0, 6-2; Manors (US) bt Laval (Fr) 6-3. 3-6, 7-5: Dlaa (Br) bl White (US) VWagran (Arg) bl A Eldredoe (US) 6-1. 6-1; A VWra (Br) bt Mandlikova (Aus) 6-7.

6-1, 6-4; Nomina (Cz) bt Halard (Fr) 6-3, 6-2. Cycling MILK RACE. Sacond ataga (Bournemouth to Bristol. 121.6 miles): 1. Reynolds (PMS-Falcon) 5hr 30min 46sec: 2, Suarez-Cueva (Zahor) 3, Joughin (Percy Billon); 4 Luckwell (GB).

Taamai 1, PMS-Falcon 16hr 32min 41sec; 2, Zahor 3, Percy Billon 16:32.59.. overall atandingai 1. Reynolds (PMS-Falcon) lOhr 14mln 32sec; 2, Joughin (Percy Billon) 3, Harris (Raleigh-Banana) 4, Rayner (Raleigh-Banana) 5, Chanton (Fr) 6. McLouQnlin (Z-PeuQeol). Taamai 1, PMS-Falcon 30hr 3fimln 4630c; 2, QB 3, Poland 30:37.3.

Monica Seles, on the other hand, played with massive assurance to beat Ronni Reis 6-4, 6-1. At Houston recently the precocious Seles, who has lived in Florida long enough to have acquired an American accent, beat Chris Evert which would seem to put her among other teenage hopefuls like Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez. nnvNuown GLOUCESTER IUGU1BS MONMOUTH the sprint for second place from Joughin. Steve Farrell, the Great Britain amateur team rider from Stoke-on-Trent, made a suicidally early bid for freedom after just three miles of racing but after leading for just over 100 miles crossed the line eight minutes down on the leader. gan has to face in the comeback.

That makes it an in-, triguing match and the most expensive one for a non-title bout in Britain tor years. McGuigan is getting 200,000 (who needs world title challenges witn tnat sort of price going around?) and McDonnell 50,000. The man who has put the package together is Barry Hearns, the snooker imnresario who is now managing McDonnell and believes he can achieve a similar status in the promo tion of boxing as he has done in snooker. The 250,000 he will probably regard as venture capital hut it would brine' a ouick and adventurous return if McDonnell wins, which is what I suspect will happen, McDonnell's last fight was for the WBA featherweight title against Brian Mitchell at a picketed Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre last year. At 28, he thus has an unexpected opportunity to take the place again of a worm-title cnauenger, tms time in the super featherweight division.

aiRO 0'ITAUA. Tenth ataga (Individual lime trial. Pesaro to Riccione. 36 8): 1. Pia-secki (Pol) 48mln 26sec; 2, Broukink INeth) at 25sec; 3.

Roche (Ire) 33. Alaoi 103. Kimmage (Ire) 38:14. Overall atandingai 1, Breukink45hr6min 23sec; 3. Fignon (Fr) 1:01.

DAUPHINE ataga (Dl-vonne-les-Bains lo Lyon, 186km): 1. Pois-son (Fr) 5hr 6mEn 34sec; 2, Verhoeven (Nelh); 3. Van den Abbeele (Bel): 4, Wag-mueller (Switz); 5, Mueller (Switz) all same time; 6. Kelly (Ire) at 7sec. Alaoi 6.

Bennington (GB) same time. Overall atand-Ingst 1. Wegmueller 5hr 12mln 28soc; 2. Polsson at 8sec; 3, Bauer 9: 4, Monet (Fr) 10. Bamball AMERICAN LEAGUE.

NY Yankees 6. Sealtlo Cleveland 5, Toronto Detroit 4, Chicago White Sox California 12, Milwaukee Baltimore 6. Texas Boston 3, Oakland 2: Kansas City 7, Minnesota 1. NATIONAL LIAQUt Allanla 2. Chicago Cubs 1: Pittsburgh 12.

Cincinnati 3: San Francisco 3. NY Mets Houston 3, St Louis Montreal 3, LA Codgers 2: San Diego 1. Philadelphia 0. Fixtures (7.30 unless slated) Soccer WORLD CUP. Oroup foun Wales Wosl Germany (Cardiff Arms Pk).

BARCLAYS UAQUE P1AY-0rS Ftr-el, first lag, Sacond Ohrialoni Blackburn Crystal Palace (7.45). Third BtvtsJora Bristol Rvra Port Vala (9.0). fjYESTERDAY BOURNEMOUTH I "1 giwngham" "I 60 A 1 IK the West Germans and lost their last encounter, a European Championship qualifier, 5-1 in Cologne 10 years ago. This evening's game ought to be a bit closer, but even if Rush recovers from a groin strain the Welsh will find it hard to withstand the pace and organisation of Franz Beckenbauer's steadily improving side. Whatever happens the setting will be rather grander than Wrexham, Swansea or Ninian Park.

Taking a fixture like this to the National Stadium will enable Yorath's side to feel more like national representatives of their sport even if the Germans feel more at home in a modern stadium. A crowd of 30,000 is expected, well below Arms Park capacity. Fifa insisted on seated spectators only when they learned that the terraces were not fenced off from the pitch. WALES (probable). SeuthaS (Evarton); RatcWta (Everlon).

Slaekmora (Manchester U), Phillips (Coventry). Ableweed (Leeds). Nicholas (Chelsea). Wllllama (Derby). Name (Southampton), Ruah (Liverpool).

Hughee (Manchester U), Saundera (Derby). WIST QIRMANV (probable) lllgnen Faeh, Berthotd, BuchwaM, rWiutardt (or Kohlar), Brahma, Haaaler, Malar, Bautar, Hedle, VoSar. to Spain time they are. It promises to be an invigorating experience." The former Chelsea, Coventry, QPR and Plymouth defender may be inheriting a Second Division side. Espanol are currently involved in a struggle against relegation.

But he says: "It won't make any difference to my situation if they go down. Espanol is the right club for me because I know Spanish football. I know they can be a bit ruthless on coaches who don't succeed but I know they like winners too. It's a small club but it's in a city I know and a place where I still have lots of friends." The Hearts midfield player Kenny Black has agreed to join Portsmouth in a 250,000 deal and is expected to sign today. relaxant leading 3-1.

For Saturday's second leg at Selhurst, Palace are hoping to raise their capacity to 38.000 from the 31,000 forced on them two years ago for safety reasons. The Bristol Rovers manager, Gerry Francis, is struggling to raise a team for the Third Division final first leg with Port Vale at Twerton Park. Three players Phil Purnell, Devon White and the leading scorer Gary Penrice are injured. With Geoff Twentyman suspended and Dennis Bailey and Ian Hazel having returned to their clubs after loan spells, Francis has added two reserve players, Paul Nixon and Ian Willmott, to his squad. The match will be watched by an all-ticket crowd of 9,000.

Queen's Park were fined 1,000 for fielding ineligible players in the last two League games of the season. The Second Division side the country's only senior amateur club are the fourth Scottish club to be punished this season for incorrect procedure in registering their players. John Rodda FATIMA WHITBREAD, the javelin silver medalist in the Seoul Olympic Games and former world record holder, is almost certain to miss the entire season because of a shoulder injury. On Saturday she achieved a throw of 72.21 metres at a meeting in Thurrock, two metres further than her best distance last year, and then with her next try tore the muscle in her right shoulder, which she injured last season. She will undergo an operation today and the forecast is that she is unlikely to be back for competition until the autumn.

Whitbread, who suffered injury and illness last summer, severely restricting her preparation for the Olympic Games, will not be missing very much, by her standards. The major events are the European Cup and World Cup. She would have scored points for Britain in the European event, which is being held at Gateshead, and almost certainly have appeared in a Euro THE long-running comeback of the former world champion Barry McGuigan reaches a crucial stage tonight in the G-Mex Centre, Manchester. It will come to a halt if Jim McDonnell, one of Britain's most skilful boxers, can bemuse the Irishman into submission. It is almost three years since McGuigan lost his World Boxing Association featherweight title to Steve Cruz under the Nevada sun.

The Irishman took time to recover from the shock of defeat and then get over the wrestling match with his manager Barney Eastwood from whom he has parted. But the time which has elapsed has caused some observers to suspect that McGuigan is content to allow his fighting career to tick over against less dangerous foes. McGuigan denies it; then Results OoH SONY WORLD teni 1. Ballesteros (Sp) 21.48pts: 2. Norman (Aus) 1677: 3.

Faldo (GB) 16.31: 4. Strange (US) 13.70: 5. Kile (US) 12 23: 6. Lyle (GB) 11.87: 7. 1 Woosnam (GB) 10.53: 8.

J-M Olaza-bal (Sp) 10.16: 9. CalcaveccMa (US) 9.92: 10. Beck (US) 9.71. Tennis FRENCH OPEN (Paris). First round, Mara WHtkMi (US) bl Rlolewskl (WG) 6-2.

6-1. 6-4: Parez-Aoldan (Arg) bl Casal (Sp) 6-1 6-2. 6-0: A Mancrnl (Arg) bl Youl (Aus) 7-5. 6-2. 6-3: arte (Arg) bl Fi tip-pi ni (Uru) 6-3.

6-4. 6-2: HdtU Pane (Arg) bl Frombarg (Aus) 6-4. 6-4. 6-2; lvih MVlo (Vug) bt Reneberg (US) 0-6. 6-2.

6- 1. 6-3: I Landl (Cz bl Kuehnen (WG) 7-6. 6-3. 6-1: Rolg (Sp) bl A Olhovsky (USSR) 6-4. 6-3.

6-2: Potlar (Fr) bl Molta (Br) 5-7. 2-6. 6-3, 6-1. 6-0: Man (WG) bt Piollne (Fr) 6-4. 7-5.

7-5: C-U Staab (WG) bt Stoltenberg (Aus) 6-3. 7-5, 6-3: Nova-eak (Cz) bt Marcelino (Br) 6-2. 6-2, 6-2: 0 CahUI (Aus) bt Broad ISA) 6-4. 6-1, 6-4: Cam (It) bt Guslalsson (Swo) 3-6. 1-6.

6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Whaalon (US) bt Sanloro (Fr) 3-6, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-U; Backar (WG) bt Pugh (US) 6-4, 6-2. 6-3: A Torn (Sp) bl Nljssen (Nelh) 6-2. 6-4. 2-6, 6-4: Chang (US) bt Masso (Bel) 6-7, 6-3. 6-0.

6-3: Sampraa (US) bl Lozano (Max) 6-3. 6-2. 6-4. Woman Malar (WG) bt I Kucrynska (Pol) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4; a Sanchez (Sp) bt Rachr- iaTjiiiiiriiirdt. Harris parting company Celtic will not take no on Mo CELTIC are refusing to accept that Mo Johnston will not join them, despite word from France that his projected million move irom names has irretrievably broken down.

The Glasgow club's chairman, Jack McGinn, believes he holds a document signed by the Nantes vice-president which is "bindinc by law" and he will ask Uefa to support Celtic's claim. "The vice-president of Nantes signed an agreement tranfer-ring the player back to Celtic. He stamped it with their official club seal and the player himself signed a declaration of intent stating he would join us on July 1," said McGinn. After announcing the signing of the Scottish international striker a few weeks ago, Celtic say they paid 400,000 to Nantes. This week, however, the French club said that the transfer had collapsed because of "personal and contractual problems Malcolm Allison is believed to be top of an ambitious shortlist drawn up by the GM Vaux-hall Conference club Fisher Athletic for the manager's post.

Liam Brady, Alan Devonshire, Graham Paddon and Tommy FOR 21 PERFORMANCES ONLY 5-24 JUNE League rejects new shape 7' HE Scottish League's annual meeting in Glasgow yesterday rejected, by 43 votes to 35, the plan by Falkirk to change the structure of the three divisions. The First Division club had proposed that the Premier Division be enlarged by two in a new 12-12-14 arrangement. At the same meeting, THE PLAYHOUSE glffiintlisTsTaaniBm Taylor have also been approached..