The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Friday June 7 1991 Soccer 18 SPORTS NEWS Stephen Biortoy and David Hopps clared himself out of the running for the Southampton job and committed himself to staying with Bournemouth, whom he has managed for eight years. After further talks with Luton's managing director David Kohler, David Pleat yesterday confirmed that he will return as manager at Kenilworth Road within the next few days. Raddy Antic, the former Luton Town player, described himself as the "happiest man in the world" after being confirmed as manager of Real Madrid. Ten people were killed and 128 injured in Santiago early yesterday as fans celebrated Colo Colo's 3-0 South American club championship victory over Olimpia of Paraguay. bridge United, West Bromwich Albion (twice), Manchester United and Atletico Madrid before joining Sheffield Wednesday in February 1989.

He has always produced teams of attacking flair, if prone to brittleness in defence. His appointment at Hillsborough came as a surprise to many, for he was hardly the natural successor to Howard Wilkinson, but the supporters took to him almost immediately, to the point of forgiving him when the team were improbably relegated in 1989 after looking safe. Atkinson responded with typical elan by taking Wednesday to Wembley for the first time in 25 years. Atkinson's move to Villa appears cut and dried, although he was also being linked yesterday with Marseille. Wherever he goes, Wednesday have been left seeking compensation and a replacement after football's money-go-round has put on another less than edifying show.

Neil Warnock, the Notts County manager, has turned down the chance to join Chelsea because he did not want to break up his partnership with his assistant Mick Jones. Chelsea's chairman Ken Bates said last night that Warnock provisionally accepted a three-year contract before the play-offs but changed his mind after Jones decided he did not want to leave the Nottingham area "for personal Harry Redknapp is another manager staying put. He has de their Czechoslovak manager, Jozef Venglos, Atkinson's name was one of the first to be linked with the vacant post. It appears that he and the Villa chairman, Doug Ellis, had agreed terms last week but that the announcement of the deal was leaked prematurely by Ellis, critically on the day before Atkinson and the Sheffield Wednesday players were due to parade the Rumbelows Cup around the city. Despite the embarrassing timing, it was assumed that Atkinson would leave Hillsborough, but the Wednesday supporters' faith in footballing humanity seemed to be restored the next day when Atkinson insisted he was staying.

"I finally realised I must be wrench of my career. I handed in my resignation with the greatest regret. In so many ways my time at Sheffield has been as happy as any time in my career. I believed I could commute." Few Wednesday supporters will be sympathetic. Atkinson had two years of his contract to run and was believed to have been offered a loyalty bonus.

The Villa deal was in the region of 750,000 over three years, an offer that might have been accepted by Atkinson immediately had it not been for the ill-timed disclosure. Atkinson, a former wing-half who began his playing career with Aston Villa, managed Witney, Kettering Town, Cam day, who return to the First Division next season, was terse. They are seeking legal advice. Atkinson, who is expected to take over at Aston Villa, cited his "home life" as the biggest single reason why he had changed his mind for the second time. "I have been living out of a suitcase for almost five years and it wears you down," he said.

"Wednesday have bent over backwards to accommodate me but I did not feel that commuting four hours every day was something I could do for another two or three years." The 56-year-old Atkinson lives in Bromsgrove and was not prepared to move to the Sheffield area. As soon as Aston Villa parted company with barmy to think of leaving," Atkinson said. "I could have walked out but there was no way I was going to do that after the brilliant way I have been treated here. I have worked for some of the biggest clubs in the business but never a better one than Wednesday." This was not the first time he had pledged himself to the club in such glowing terms. He did so at a supporters' club dinner shortly after Wednesday were relegated to the Second Division last summer.

He did so again after they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Rumbelows final at Wembley this year before going on to regain First Division status. Yesterday Atkinson said that leaving had been "the biggest ESS THAN a week is a I I long time in football. I I Last Friday Sheffield I Wednesday believed lJthey had persuaded Ron Atkinson to stay at Hillsborough. This morning they are once again looking for a new manager, with Trevor Francis an early front-runner. Atkinson, having apparently turned down an offer from Aston Villa while assuring the Yorkshire club of his future loyalty, handed in his resignation on Wednesday evening, an event which became public yesterday.

The response from Wednes Tennis Yorarith threatens full-time whisttle on the Wales job Fatllhieir cairirnes Qm raff pooiraclh) Russell Thomas TERRY YORATH yesterday threatened to resign as Wales's manager unless he is offered the job on a full-time basis. Yorath pressed for a decision on his written application for a permanent post less than 24 hours after directing the Welsh team to the momentous European Championship victory over Germany which brought his status into the sharpest relief. The 41-year-old Yorath has run out of patience with the FA of Wales's indecision over an issue "it seems to be put off at every committee meeting" that is confusing his future. He has been a part-time manager for three years but since being sacked by Swansea City in European powers shaken by night of the long-shots David Irvine in Paris HUMILIATING 6-0, 6-2 defeat by Arantxa vJ Sanchez-Vicario, the A worst of her eight-year career, was made no easier for Stem Graf to take at the French Open yesterday when she was questioned by journalists following a scuttle in the competitors' box during the match. The German's father had ap peared to strike a tellow spectator.

"He hit me in the face and I will be pressing charges," said Jim Levee, who is well-known on the circuit as a wealthy ten nis groupie. Grat said she understood her father was patting him on the back "but I have no idea really and I don't The incident occurred during the sixth game of the first set. Peter Graf was leaving the box at the time and said he was merely congratulating Levee, who is a nephew of Walter An-nenberg, a former US ambassador to Britain, on Monica Seles's 6-4, 6-1 win over Gabriela Sabatini. On a day when nothing went according to expectations perhaps the first 10 days had lulled everyone into a false sense of security Sabatini, who was a firm favourite though seeded third, was put in her place 6-4, 6-1 by the defending champion from Yugoslavia. So, against the odds, tomorrow's women's title match will be between the little Spaniard, who became the youngest to win the title when she triumphed over Graf in 1989, and Seles, who deprived her of that distinction again at Grafs expense last year.

Understandably Graf, who felt she was on course to claim her fourth French title and regain the No. 1 spot, was rather more confused and distressed about her game than any off-court diversions. "Nothing I tried seemed to work," she said. "I couldn't even keep the ball on the court. I can't remember when I last played that bad." In a headlong rush to destruction the Graf forehand, once the most feared and respected shot in the women's game, was her greatest liability.

In all it was David Lacey assesses the impact of Wales's victory over the world champions March has gone without other means of support. "You have to keep a cool head," said Yorath. "I can't afford to live on 15,000 a year. The FAW might think I am doing it all right as a part-timer, but they are not in my position." An approach to return to club management would be he claimed. "If I had an interview I could not insist that I would stay with Wales part-time.

If I was asked to take a big job I would have to turn my back on Wales because of the financial situation. I would have thought the FAW would have knocked on my door and offered the job to me by now." Alun Evans, the FAW secretary, said he believed "the Welsh public want him" and suggested that an offer that the Matthaus out of the match at half-time, contributed directly to the Germans' downfall in Cardiff that and their lukewarm interest in going for a win. Six minutes later Bodin's through-pass combined with Rush's speed to outmanoeuvre a defence in which Reuter, who had switched to sweeper in Berthold's place, proved to be merely a wire copy. Wales certainly had luck on their side but it was an experience long overdue. The last time they reached the threshold of a European Championship they were held 1-1 at Ninian Park by Yugoslavia in 1976 in a game they needed to win.

The East German referee disallowed two Welsh goals, the crowd invaded the pitch and Terry Yorath missed a penalty. All things considered, Yorath can hardly be blamed for his somewhat downbeat reaction to Wales's first victory over the Germans. "I'm not foolish enough to suggest that Wales are a better side than Germany," he said, "nor am I foolish enough to say that Wales will qualify. We just have to fight on with everything we've got. We have become a well-knit side and we've got our tactics right." Yorath's realism has enabled him to develop a playing pattern which makes the most of slender resources and in particular accommodates the attack manager "could not refuse" was on its way.

But he added: "Yorath must be patient with us." The issue could be resolved with a senior international committee recommendation later this month, although that must be endorsed by the full council, due to meet on August 7. Evans recognised Yorath's achievement in taking Wales tantalisingly close to their first major finals since 1958. "If Terry had a case to make to be a full-time manager, he has made one of the strongest arguments anyone could make. I think the FAW will rightly take into account public opinion and the views of the players." Neville Southall, Wales's goalkeeper, has already pledged the side's support. "The lads want him to get the job full-time.

We are all behind him." ing talents of Rush, Saunders and Hughes. But despite their efforts Wales did not breach the German wall until Berthold went off and the trundlers in midfield and defence might have handed the match to Germany had Southall not been in superlative form in the Welsh goal. "Neville Southall is the best goalkeeper on the island," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and he was talking about Britain, not Anglesey. Berthold's spiteful kick at Ratcliffe's lower abdomen, not entirely unprovoked it has to be said, has probably cost Germany his services for the rest of the qualifiers. Wales have lost Nicholas for Nuremberg after a piece of crass behaviour at a free-kick.

A lot, but not all, will depend on the Nuremberg match. In September Belgium play in Luxembourg, where the Germans only won narrowly, 3-2, and if the Belgians can better that result their chances of qualifying will be revived. Belgium are at home to Germany in November but if the group looks like being decided on goal difference the Germans will look forward to the visit of Luxembourg the following month. Wales are also at home to Luxembourg but the Germans play them last. So Yorath is wise to resist even a rough estimate of Welsh chickens.

But Wales are still entitled to crow a little. Greater Germany boasts 5.3 million registered footballers. Wales has 51,500. That is the measure of Wednesday's achievement. "We've been called into the kitchen to put out the fire caused by squabbling between the two main bodies," Taylor said.

The PFA argues, a touch optimistically, that while under its plan all key decisions such as sponsorship and television deals would be taken collectively, independent bodies would retain their specialist identities. More than 1,500 copies of the PFA document have been sent to all League clubs, the FA, the League and other bodies including the police authorities. The League has already "wholeheartedly" endorsed the plan and will no doubt be cheered by Taylor's rejection of the FA's Premier League: "It would be our intention to stop it. It is a negative step and not what the supporters want." Hibernian's future looks increasingly uncertain after it was confirmed that receivers had been appointed to the Edinburgh club's parent company, Forth Investments pic. St Mirren have signed Celtic's central defender Lex Baillie for 90,000.

Middlesbrough have transfer-listed Bernie Slaven, John WarkandlanBaird. Cash and Lendl cope with bold resistance on the way to Beckenham PAT CASH'S contention that he is 100 per cent fit for the first time in two years was put to the test yesterday in the Direct Line Insurance tournament at Beckenham, writes Richard Jago. Gianluca Pozzi, an Italian left-hander ranked only 183 in the world, twice came Golf WHEN Germany and Italy, the Axis powers of European football, lose to Wales and Norway on the same night then clearly football's silly season has begun. The next thing you know England will be undertaking a Captain Cook's tour of the Antipodes while handing out full international caps like Jim'll Fix It badges. News of Italy's 2-1 defeat in a European Championship quali fier in Oslo on Wednesday, a result which may prove to be of considerable benefit to the Soviet Union in Group Three, came through with the National Stadium in Cardiff still echoing to sounds of Welsh rejoicing following the historic 1-0 win over the new Germany.

The thought occurred that the commentator who greeted a similar Norwegian triumph against England in the World Cup in 1981 by invoking famous names from the opposition's past and combining them with a personal message to Mrs Thatcher might have been at it again. "Rossini, Garibaldi, Giuseppe Verdi, Mussolini, Pavar-otti we have given your boys one hell of a beating!" Italy and Germany each lct after having a player sent off but whereas the dismissal of Bergomi in Oslo came too late to have a bearing on the result the loss of Berthold after an hour, coming on top of the thigh injury which had forced I Charles steps up for England GARY CHARLES, Nottingham Forest's 21-year-old right-back, will make his England debut against New Zealand in Wellington tomorrow. Also starting an England match for the first time are the Sheffield United striker Brian Deane and the Crystal Palace winger John Salako. Graham Taylor makes several changes from the side that struggled to beat the Kiwis on Monday. The manager gives Sa-lako's club colleague Ian Wright his first appearance of the tour.

He will be standing in for Gary Lineker, in whose absence the Forest captain Stuart Pearce will lead his country for the first time. Also missing from the players who started the Auckland game are Paul Parker, Mark Walters, David Batty and Earl Barrett. The London-born Charles's rapid elevation from under-21 to full level barely six months after he broke into Brian Cloueh's first team on a regular basis is a measure of the impact he has made on Taylor. ENGLAND (v New Zealand In Wellington): Woods (Rangers); Charlsa (Nottm Forest), Pasros (Nottm Forest, capt), Wis (Chelsea). WaHter (Nottm Forest), Wright (Derby), Piatt (Aston Villa), Thomau (Crystal Palace), Dean (Sheffield U), I Wright, Salako (both Crystal Palace).

Ready for the chop Sabatini responsible for 16 unforced errors, eight of which gave Sanchez-Vicario games. Graf held serve only in the first and seventh games of the second set and was unable to take advantage of two breakpoints at 1-0. For a player who did the Grand Slam so recently it was a mystifying display. Not since 1984 had Grat dropped a love set and not since her debut here in 1983, when she was 13, had she done so in a Grand Slam championship. Graf won only 10 points in the set and looked panic-stricken.

Even a 43-minute break for rain was not enough to unscramble her mind and she continued to play like a novice. within a point of serving for a straight-sets victory against the former Wimbledon champion before losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. At 15-40 and 4-4 in the second set Cash was grateful for an odd bounce on his second serve, which hopped over Pozzi's racket for an un Meanwhile, Jose-Maria Ola-zabal is suffering, far from graciously, the first lengthy slump of his career. He shouted at his caddie, who had the temerity to suggest that maybe his boss was standing too far from the ball at address, and finally got round in 71 with little of the shot-making that has taken him to No. 2 in the world rankings.

Nick Faldo, playing only his 22nd competitive round of the year, dropped two shots in his first three holes and finished with a one-over-par 72. With only a week to go to the US Open he was clearly unhappy with most aspects of his game and afterwards admitted: "I'm taking gambles that just aren't coming off. I need to get some momentum going." Ian Woosnam, preparing for the US Open by playing in the Murphy's Cup at Fulford, fears he has not yet seen off the flu that almost forced him to abandon his round, writes David Henderson. But he defied the virus to shoot eight birdies for a share of fourth place behind Jose Rivero and Wayne Westner. prepares to cut a backhand on All Sanchez-Vicario had had to do was turn up, although she hit throughout to a perfect length and offered Graf no chance to get back into the match.

Any match played in instalments and there were two interruptions of 16 and 68 minutes in the first set is never easy, but Seles clearly coped better than Sabatini, whose game was as badly off-key as Stefan Edberg's the previous day. A break ahead at 3-1 when she hammered away Sabatini's tame second serve, Seles wilted before the Argentinian's immediate counter-attack, being caught flat-footed on the base deserved ace, but he saved the second vital break point with a whiplash first delivery and then took that ninth game with two more service winners as tension began to creep into the Italian's game. The man whom Cash beat in the 1987 Wimbledon final, Ivan Lendl, also reached the Golf COMMONWEALTH TOURNAMENT (Northumberland GC): Nsw Zealand 3, Canada 3. Foursomes (NZ names first): McGuireL Aldridge lost to SamualE Blron 2 HlgginsK Starr lost to A LapolnteL Kane 5 4. Singles: Hlgglns bt Lapolnte 5 McOuh bt Samuel 2 Atdridge bt Blron 2 1: A Stott lost to Kan 2 1.

Great Britain 3, Australia 3. Foursomes (GB llrst): HallV Thomas lost to BrieraB Kennedy 3 LambartE Farquharaon bt DoolanJ Shearwood 3 2. Singles! Hall bt Briers 3 Lambert halved with Kennedy; Fletcher halved with Doolan: Thomas lost to Shearwood 1 up. MURPHY'S CUP (Fulford, York): First round (GBIre unless stated): Iflpta Westner (SA); Rivero (Sp). IBS Field.

14 1 Woosnam; Clark; Lane. 13 Oarcy; P-U Johansson (Swe); Harwood (Aus). 13 Parnovik; Teravalnen (US); Mouland: McLean; Hamlll. 11 Pendaries (Fr); Smylh; A Forsbrand (Swe): Martin (Sp); van de Velde (Fr). 10 Roe; Johnstone; O'Connor jnr; Senior; Vannet; Forsbrand (Swe); McAllister: Waters; Moreno (Sp); A Russell; O'Malley (Aus).

McFarlane; Bennett; Morse (US); Fowler (Aus); Spence; Pinero (Sp); Boxall; Charnley. 8 Longmulr; Singh (Fiji); Mitchell: Torrance; Angalada (Sp); Russell; Robinson; Davis; Heggarty; Smith; James; Brand nr; Gallacher. 7 Tinning (Den); Hawksworth; Feherty; Gates; 0 Dabson (Fr); Hart-mann (US); Claydon; Ranerty; Montgomery; Price; Curry; Hoad; Rutledge (Can). LA MANGA CLUB CLASSIC First round (GBIre unless stated): 87 Prechll (US), as Douglas. 60 Barnard; Moon (US).

TO Parker (US); Dahllol (Swe); Garner; Prosser; Gook (Can): Furst (US); 068-campe (Bel): Salkl (US). T1 Nlcklln: Burton (Aus); Bartholomew (US); A Nicholas; Lunn (Aus); Hill (Zlmb); Elliott; Soulea (Fr); Comstock (US). Basketball NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONi Finals Chicago 107, LA Lakers 88 (series tied at 1-1). Results I her way to defeat by Seles line by a deep-hit backhand that landed on the line. Sabatini returned after the first rain break to hold for 3-3, but at 4-4 there was a heavier downpour which dampened the court and, seemingly, the third seed's spirits for she was never in the hunt thereafter.

"I knew when we came back the second time I had to go for it," said Seles. "As soon as I won the first set I got more confident and then when I got the first break in the second I felt I had the match comfortably. But I did not want to let go as I knew what happened to Novotna." Without a positive serve on which to build a counter-attack, quarter-finals yesterday, dropping the first three games to Luis Herrera of Mexico before winning 6-4, 6-4. Later, overhearing himself described by a journalist as "not young any Lendl cheerfully replied: "How old are you?" Both the second seeds, Tennis FRENCH OPEN (Paris): Mem OouMeai SemMlnah LeachJ Pugti (US) bt FranaiL Lavalle (ArgMex) 6-3, 7-6. Women: Semi-finals: Seles (Yug) bt Sabatini (Arg) 6-4, 6-1; A Sanchez Vleario (Sp) bt Gral (Ger) 6-0, 6-2.

Mixed doubles! Qusrter-finah SukovaC Suk (Cz) bt JordanM Woodtorde (USAus) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Semi-final! VlsP Haarhula (Nelh) bt A TemesvariG Luza (HunArg) 2-6, GRASS COURT TOURNAMENT (Beckenham): Mem Third round: StoHenoerg (Aus) bt Caralll (It) 5-3 ret; I Lendl (Cz) bt Herrera (Mex) 6-4, 6-4; Orebb (US) bt Galbralth (US) 6-2, 7-5: Pearce (US) bt Reneberg (US) 6-3, 7-5. Woman: Quarter-nnafsi A Stmadeva (Cz) bt Basukl (Indo) 6-4, 6-1; A Mmter (Aus) bt Magers (US) 6-3, 6-3; Stubba (Aus) bt Smylie (Aus) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Shrtver (US) bt Novelo (Mex) 6-2, 6-1. Cycling MILK RACE: Tenth stage (Telford to Sheffield, 87.3mls): 1, Walker (Banana-Falcon. GB) 3hr 14mln 22sec; 2, Bogaert (Collstrop-Isoglass, Bel); 3, Spruch (Pol); 4, Rasen-berg (TVM, Neth); 5, van Steen (Neth): 6, A Perks (GB, amateur); 7, Meis (Nelh); 8, Carney (US); 9, Clay (Banana-Falcon, GB); 10, Reynolds (Banana-Falcon, GB) all same lime.

Overall standings: 1, Walker 2, Hempsall (England Ama) 3, Reynolds 4. Lodge (Collstrop-lsoglass, GB) 37:41.21: 5, Holden (Banana-Falcon, GB) 6, Curran (England Ama) 7, Abra-mov (USSR) 37:42.23: 8, Baker (US) 9, Beelen (SEFB-Saxon, Bel) 37:42.33: 10, Cook (England Ama) 37:42.36. Teams: 1, Banana-Falcon 2, Collstrop-lsoglass; 3, Netherlands. OveraHt 1, Banana-Falcon 2, England Amateurs 3, Collstrop-lsoglass 112:57.32. Points classification: 1, Walker 140pls; 2, Bogaert 88; 3, Clay 71.

Mountains OPi 1. Bamford (NZ) 128pts; 2, Tcherka-chine (USSR) 87; 3, Lodge 74. GIRO DWALIA: Eleventh stags (Sala Ba-ganza to Savona, 215km; Italians unless stated): 1, Sclandri 5hr 35mln 10sec; 2, LeMond (US) same time; 3, Durand (Fr) at 5sec. Overall: 1, Chioccloli 2, Bugno at Isec; 3, Lejarrela (Sp) 28. PHOTOGRAPH: LIONEL CIRONNEAU and no timing on her forehand, there was no way back for Sabatini and Seles completed her revenge for defeat at last September's US Open in 74 minutes.

It had been a total contrast to their final in Rome, where Sabatini allowed Seles just five games. "Then Gaby was converting more of her chances, the same way as I did today," said Seles. "But I was missing a lot of balls that I usually don't miss and now it is slowly coming back. Sabatini, who said her defeat, though a disappointment, had not diminished her Wimbledon chances, now returns to Buenos Aires to prepare on grass. quarter finals Gretchen Magers and Richey Reneberg were beaten.

Reneberg lost to Brad Pearce from Provo, Utah, who beat Cash at their last meeting and now plays him again. Magers lost to Anne Minter, who has a degree in journalism but who yesterday made her story with the racket. DAUPHIHE UBERE: Fourth stage (An-nonay to vals-les-Balns, 184km): 1, Abadle (Fr) 4hr 41mln 20sec; 2, Ledanols (Fr) same time; 3, Lino (Fr) at Isec. Overall! 1, Lino 2, Ledanols at Ssec; 3, Bourguig-non(Fr) IB. Cricket RAPID CnlCKETllHB CHAMPIONSHIP Banstsad: Surrey 209-8 dec (M A Lynch 104, Bullen 73) and 181-7 dec.

Derby 227 (S Goldsmith 90; Boiling 4-66) and 152-6 (S Goldsmith 65; Kendrick 6-83). Match drawn. Cheltenham! Essex 301-7 dec (K A Butler 76, A Fraser 73) and 100-1 dec. Gloucestershire 1 13-2 dec (T Hancock 67no) and 250-8 (R I Dawson 75, Williams 70). Match drawn.

Htncklsy: Glamorgan 300-4 dec (P A Coney I06no, James 62) and 195-2 dec (D Hemp 82no, A Cottey 77). Leicestershire 223-6 dec (D Martyn 71no, I Plender 61) and 130-7 (J Benson 65). Match drawn. Maidstone: Kent 194 (V Wells 69; Smith 4-17) and 323-3 (M Dobson 123no, Wells 92, Llong 73). Warwickshire 399-9 dec (R Twose 79, Green 71, Burns 59).

Maich drawn. OM Treftordi Northamptonshire 340-7 dec (N A Stanley 138, Noon 91) and 277-1 dec (R Warren 170no, Ellis 53). Lancashire 302-1 dec (S Tilchard 138no, Gallian 125no) and 127-4. Match Drawn. Tauntoru Hampshire 313 (J Ayllng 62; Caddlck 6-109) and 75-2 dec (R Parks 51 no).

Somerset 67-0 dec and 212 (M Latwell 61; Tremlett 5-48). Hampshire won by 109 runs. Worcester: Sussex 386-7 dec (K Greenfield 117, Wells 109, Hanley 51). Worcestershire 148 and 268-6 (S, Bavins 60no, Haynes 59). Match drawn, OTHER MATCH (Aldershol, 55 overs): Middlesex Second XI 262-7 (Attab Hablb 69).

Army 186 (M Rudd 63, A Pick 56no; Barnett 5-21). Middlesex won by 76 runs. Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE: Toronto 4, NY Yankees Cleveland 2, Chicago White Sox Detroit 7, Seattle Kansas City 3, Texas Minnesota 4, Baltimore Oakland 8, Milwaukee California 7, Boston 2. NATIONAL LEAGUE: San Dlogo 3. Chicago Cubs Cincinnati 11.

NY Mets 10; Pittsburgh 7, San Francisco Philadelphia 12, Atlanta 11; Montreal 8, Houston Los Angeles 2, St Louis 0. PFA's peace plan Allem back to front ON A day when the League fired another warning shot across the bows of the Football Association, a third force entered the argument over the future of the game with a government-approved plan to bring the warring factions together, writes Neil Robinson. The Professional Footballers' Association has produced a 14-page document entitled "For the Good of the Game" which has the backing of the Minister for Sport Robert Atkins. It calls for the formation of an executive board called "The Football Federation of England" with representatives from the FA, League and PFA, plus an independent chairman. But the chances of such a council coming about seemed remote yesterday after the League's announcement that it plans to take the FA to court unless plans for a premier league are withdrawn within seven days.

"I would think the League have timed their announcement to coincide with ours," Gordon Taylor, the PFA chief executive, said yesterday. Atkins approached Taylor last month and asked him to submit compromise proposals. David Davles in Rye, New York THE unlikely alliance of a Lebanese South African and his Chinese acupuncturist provided the earl; joint-leader of the Buick Classic at the Westchester Country Club yesterday. Fulton Allem, born in South Africa of Lebanese parents, defied a herniated disc in his back to record a five-under-par 66, good enough to share the lead with Brad Bryant and Chris Perry. Allem had six birdies, five in the first 10 holes, before his back started troubling him.

He later departed for some oriental medicine. He is four shots ahead of Se-veriano Ballesteros, whose 70 was something of a disappointment in that he was three under par after the 5th, yet it contained some of the usual magic, including a par at the 7th after his drive had hit a tree. A little flick over a grassy hump on to an exceedingly slick green stopped an impossible five feet short and he and holed the putt..