The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 26

26 I SPORTS NEWS The Guardian Tuesday July 8 1997 Football Merson seals his 4.5m move north a move. "He is one of the best Martin Thorpe "They are ambitious and one of the few clubs I would have left Arsenal to join." Resigned to losing Fabrizio Ravenelli yesterday fined two weeks' wages, about 601000, for not reporting back as well as Jvminho, Robson said: "This is yet another example of the club's determination to be successful and bring only quality players to Middlesbrough. Merson can play off the main strikers or out wide, has an eye for goal and great vision. We have told him he will not be the last player of his quality we sign." Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger admitted that he could not refuse such a substantial offer for Merson. "You are never happy to lose a player of his calibre but it is a good deal for him and for the club," he said.

Dennis Bergkamp hinted that his former team-mate had perhaps been looking for PAUL MERSON officially exchanged the red of Arsenal for the red of Middlesbrough yesterday and immediately saw his bank account go further into the black. The 29-year-old England forward will pick up 20,000 a week under his five-year contract, an important factor in persuading him to drop down a division and move north after 14 years at Arsenal. Yesterday, as he completed the 4.5 million move, Merson pronounced himself happy to help Boro's fight for promotion back to the Premiership, even though he was Bryan Robson's second choice after Paul Gascoigne. "I'm excited about this new challenge and flattered by Middlesbrough's approach," said Juninho's replacement. Murphy and Juninho add to Tottenham tale of woe First footing Wilson Kipketer crosses the line in lmin 41.73sec, ahead of Kenya's Patrick Konchellah and Norway's Kipketer equals Coe Vebjorn Rodal jack mikbut mark Briton salutes 'a phenomenally good run' in the 800 metres.

Duncan Mackay reports Ian Ross and Martin Thorpe OTTENKAM support-I ers received further I gloomy news yesterday when the Crewe Alexandra youngster Danny Murphy snubbed them to join Liverpool, and Juninho revealed that the reason he did not move to Spurs was the club's lack of success. Three weeks of negotiation by Tottenham's manager Gerry Francis came to nothing when Murphy announced he would join Liverpool, the club he has supported since childhood. Liverpool have agreed to pay an initial 1.5 million for the England Under-21 midfielder, with additional payments linked to appearances, up to 3 million. Murphy was poised to join Tottenham at the weekend until Liverpool intervened under the terms of an agreement struck towards the end of last season which saw them adopt Crewe as a "nursery" club. champion, has kept up her unbeaten record since Atlanta.

Holmes maintained concentration even when Quirot stumbled on the kerb in front of her shortly after the bell, and she launched a ferocious attack in the last 150m. "It was my toughest race of the season," said the 1995 world silver and bronze medallist. "I haven't raced seriously over the distance; how- players I've worked said the Dutch international, "but maybe a part of him wanted a new challenge." Bergkamp also revealed that his own decision to sign a new four-year deal was sparked by the revolution being presided over by Wenger, who, having already spent 17 million on new play ers, expects to make another toreign signing this week. "The club has grown in am bition since he arrived," said Bergkamp. "I do not have any worries about money so when I see what they are doing the only thought I have is that I want to be a part of it.

Jorge Cadete's agent has told Celtic that the Portu guese striker has hepatitis A. Cadete has been absent without leave from pre-season training but his doctor has sent a letter which the club now need to translate. burn are also hoping to sign another Swede, the Malmo midfielder Anders Andersson, either in a straight 1 million deal or in part-exchange for their own Swedish striker Niklas Gudmundsson. Two Leeds United overseas players have failed to report for pre-season training, the Ghanaian Tony Ye-boah and Tomas Brolin. The Swede has offered the best excuse so far from the Premiership's many absentee foreigners: a bird flew into his windscreen on his way to the airport, making him veer off the road.

Paul Gascoigne's adviser Mel Stein and his accountant Lenny Lazarus have been convicted of fraud in a French court and each sentenced to a year in prison. Both men, who were also fined 100,000 francs have been found guilty of illegally arranging tax-free payments to Chris Waddle after his transfer from Tottenham to Marseille eight years ago. Stoke opt for Bates at last STOKE CITY have appointed Chic Bates as manager after the resignation of Lou Macari in April. Bates, who was Macari's assistant, had to wait 11 weeks for the job as City's board approached more high-profile candidates including Peter Beardsley, Paul Bracewell and Ian Rush. "I am delighted," Bates said yesterday.

"Money is available after the sale of Mike Sheron and there will be a lot of activity on that front." He unveiled his first two signings immediately: the striker Paul Stewart on a free transfer from Sunderland, and Dick Schreuder under the Bosman ruling from the Dutch club RKC Waalwijk. Burnley would not confirm that the former England midfielder Chris Waddle is to be their manager. The job at Turf Moor became available when Adrian Heath went to Everton as Howard Kendall's assistant. Burnley's secretary John Howarth said the reports were "news to me. There is no announcement Second Division Fulham have signed the South African international goalkeeper Andre Arendse from Cape Town Spurs on a three-year contract.

The 30-year-old Arendse has won 20 caps and played in South Africa's recent 2-1 defeat by England at Old Trafford. Sweden's international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman has joined Coventry City from the Stockholm side AIK Solna, and Watford have completed the 130,000 signing of Notts County's midfielder Peter Kennedy. Golf everything I could do in the last 100 metres to try and break the record," he said. Second, more than two seconds behind, was Patrick Konchellah, whose brother Billy had been the pacemaker when Coe set the record. The diamond that Kipketer earned along with all athletes who set stadium records was the tip of the financial iceberg: his run was worth another $250,000 in sponsors' bonuses.

This was the penultimate Grand Prix meeting before the world championships in Athens next month and was an opportunity to chase records or sound a warning to rivals. Nobody did that more emphatically than Holmes in the 800m. After leaving the Olympic Games in Atlanta last year on crutches because of a stress fracture, having finished fourth in the 800m and 11th in the 1500m, she threw her spikes in the bin. But she has re-emerged this summer as the best female distance runner in the world. This victory in a stadium-record 1:57.14 over a field that included Cuba's Ana Quirot, the world down to equal the record, set in Florence in June 1981.

"I am a little bit relieved," Kipketer said, "because now nobody's going to ask about the world record again." He said he had never met Coe, but added: "I would like to meet him one day." Coe said: "It was a phenomenally good run. He did everything he had to. I'm sure he will go on this season to break the record, maybe in the world championships." Three previous Kipketer attempts had been washed out, but last night the weather was on his side. Paced to the bell by Bernard Kisilu, one of his former Kenyan teammates, he went through 400m on schedule at 49.22. With 250m left he took up the running on his own but was a second outside what was needed at 600m and as he came into the infamous long home straight it seemed the record had slipped away, only for his long stride to pull him back on course.

"I was trying Murphy is likely to be of-ficiaUy unveiled on Thursday along with the England international Paul Ince, who is expected finally to complete his 4.2 million transfer from Internazion-ale tomorrow evening. As well as the disappointment of seeing Teddy Sher-ingham join Manchester United, the Spurs fans' close season of frustration has included the failure of the club to attract a succession of players, including Juninho, despite tabling an ill million bid for the Brazilian, now with Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Tottenham are understood to be holding talks with a representative of the Italian side Perugia over the possible signing of Federico Giunti, a 25-year-old midfielder available at 3.5 million. The Swedish striker Martin Dahlin is to decide in the next few days whether to join Blackburn Rovers after the clubs agreed a 2.5 million deal. Black 29-year-old Georgian interna tionai Temuri Ketsbaia on a three-year contract.

No fee was involved because his contract with the Greek club AEK Athens had expired. Trevor Francis, the Birmingham City manager, hopes to complete the 1.5 million signing of Coventry City's Zimbabwean international Peter Ndlovu today. The clubs have agreed the fee, now Francis must sit down with the 24-year-old winger to settle personal terms. Wolves have sold their 29-year-old Welsh international striker Iwan Roberts to Norwich City for a reported 1 million, and the manager Mark McGhee will use some of the money to buy the experienced Celtic pair Peter Grant and Tosh McKinlay. He is also on the verge of signing the former Spurs defender Steve Sedgley from Ipswich, with the long-serving Molineux fullback Mark Venus moving in the opposite direction.

KELLY HOLMES won a one-carat diamond worth $10,000 (6,000) at the DN Galan Meeting last night but the per formance that sparkled brightest came from Wilson Kipketer, who equalled Sebastian Coe's 16-year-old world 800 metres record. As Kipketer, a disaffected Kenyan who now runs for Denmark even though he has still to be granted its passport, sprinted off the final bend he looked set to achieve belatedly what Coe predicted he would do three years ago and break the Briton's record of lmin 41.73sec, the oldest mark in the books. But as he crossed the line the digital figures on the clock froze at 1:41.74 O.Olsec outside Coe's record. A disappointed Kipketer, who was de nied the chance of an Olym pic gold medal last year because of the nationality dispute, was on his lap of honour when it was announced that the time had been rounded Tour de France Derby move a step closer to securing Roberto Baggio Holmes polished gem Peter White DERBY COUNTY'S hopes of signing the former world and European Player of the Year Roberto Baggio for the new season moved a step nearer realisation last night. Stuart Webb, a director of the club, travelled to Milan for further talks with Baggio and his advisers, hoping to persuade the 30-year-old striker to move to the Premiership.

Baggio has been offered a two-year contract worth about 30,000 a week, with his club Milan receiving a transfer fee of 1 million. Derby's manager Jim Smith said last night: "We feel we have at least a 50-50 chance of securing the deal." Newcastle United have offered 4 million for the Inter-nazionale defender Alessan-dro Pistone but have been told that the asking price is 5 million. The club yesterday completed the signing of the Super Mario plays with the pack men ever, it showed how strong I am and I am certainly considering running both the 800 and 1500 in Athens." Ato Boldon, the double Olympic bronze medallist, was another to make his competitors sit up and take notice as he ran 9.95 in the 100m on this notoriously slow sprinting track to claim a diamond. The Trinidadian powered out of his blocks to beat the American champion Maurice Greene by O.Oosec. Less than an hour later he was back on the track to claim the 200m from Greene in 19.82 and complete the fastest one-day sprint double in history.

Boldon was bubbling after the race. "Athens is going to be even better than Atlanta in terms of times," he said. He will start as favourite for the longer distance at least in Athens, both because of his form and with the news yesterday that the double Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who failed to make the United States' team because of injury, is unlikely to receive a wild card to compete, because of opposition to the idea within the sport's governing body. Stage 3 Vlre-Plumelec 224 km Tuesday, July 8 290m 85m A Al6ftn 65m 17km 41 93 Vira (Start) Plumaleo A Mountain climb (1steepest) Sprint Refreshments featuring only three survivors from the team who won 14-10 at Porthcawl two years ago: the Scots Barclay Howard and Graham Rankin and England's Gary Wolsten-holme, who then famously beat Tiger Woods in the first-day singles. TBAMi Broolts (Carluke and Scotland, aged 25), Couahlan (Birr and Ireland, 22) Howard (Cochrane Castle and Scotland, 44), Nolan (Bray and Ireland, 24).

Park (Burahllt Valley and Wales, 23) a Rankin (Palacerigg and Scotland, 31), Dom (North Hants and England, 16). WaUon (East Renfrewshire and Scotland, 31), a Wol.tanholme (Kllworlh Springs and England, 36), ft Young (Invor-allochy and Scotland, 20). Rmrmi Wiggins (Slaloy Hall and England, 24), Faflfcsan (Miliiown and Iroland, 32). Non-ptaylng oaptalm Brown (Walos). Saint-Hilair'e- du-HarcouetjMortMija Salnt-JamescjT Louvione-du-Desert Ji(P le-Grand Mumalae dorses have variously depicted him as a sultan being fed grapes by a harem of topless lovelies, as Aladdin on a magic carpet and D'Artagnan saving you guessed it a scantily clad young woman.

His sartorial excesses know no bounds. When his teammate Ivan Gotti won the Tour of Italy recently, Cipollini turned up on the podium in a specially commissioned Armani suit. On Sunday he was fined for wearing shorts in a stars-and-stripes design to match his new bicycle. Yesterday he was fined again, for wearing yellow shorts to go with his yellow jersey. For the man they also call Super Mario, the sprint to the line here was a truly magisterial elbow-to-elbow confrontation with last year's green-jersey points winner Erik Zabel, which went all the way to the end of the mile-long finishing straight in Avenue Foch.

Cipollini made light of the absence of the two men whose task it is to drag him to Stage 2 1 St-Vaiery-en- Caux-VIre 262 kmc Monday, July 7 8int-Valery-en-Caux Cany-BarOTe Ferronniera Usteux saim-piflire- sur-Dives Vim ComM-auf-Noiroau 145m 80m BOm 13km 109 38 133 244 217 St-Valory-n-Caux (Start) Vlra A Mountain climb (1staepest) Sprint Refraahmant Caudebac-en-CauQp Pom-Audsmoij CoimleUeji In this within sight of the line; Paolo Fornaciari was left sitting on the verge stunned and covered in grazes a few kilometres out, and his other pilot, Gian Matteo Fagnini, was unable to keep up. Cipollini expects to leave the race when the mountains start at Pau next Monday. For those with their sights on Paris, however, the next six days should be spent staying upright and saving energy; so it was curious to see Alex Ziille go on the offensive in the final hour. The Swiss's Once team manager spent most of Sunday evening persuading him to stay in the race after that afternoon's, mass pile-up saw Ziille fall on the collar-bone he broke a fortnight ago in the Tour of Switzerland. If Zulle's move was to test his form he was probably pleased merely to cause a little consternation.

William Fotheringham Is feature editor of Cycling Weekly Loch Lomond this week for the Gulfstream World Invitational. Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Greg Norman and Nick Faldo are, ensuring a field of the highest quality. Yesterday Els, as always supremely relaxed, was asked on his arrival if he was going to play or practise. "I think I'd better do both," he said. "I haven't played since the US Open." There was a short, embarrassed silence before someone said: "But what about the Bulck Classic the week after 7" Els then remembered he had won that too.

William Fotheringham In Vire EFORE the finish here yesterday the PR people from the overnight leader Mario Cipollini's Saeco team distributed neck scarves printed with a cartoon that portrayed the Italian as the Sun God. Such prescience: a short while later the man hitherto known as the Lion King scored his second stage win in two days. The bonus seconds deducted from his time increased his lead over Chris Boardman to 36 seconds after the 164-mile stage. Boardman was content to stay safe in the bunch though he narrowly avoided crashing into a photographer as he crossed the line. "That was nice and uneventful," the Englishman said.

CiDollini is the most mar ketable and most marketed professional on the road today. Magazine advertise ments for the shoes he en million (1.05 million) this year and means that, barring a total breakdown, he is bound to become the first man to surpass the $2 million mark in one season on the US Tour. In the history of the US Tour only 38 players have made $1 million in a single season. Altogether, including the open championship of his mother's native land, Thailand, Woods has won seven professional events since turning professional in August 1996. The six he has won in the United States have come in only 21 starts and the four be has won Ashes serYe every ba will be an line.

Woods in line for a $2 million year Sixteen-year-old Rose takes root in Walker Cup team GREAT BRITAIN and Ireland will defend the Walker Cup next month with a team who include the youngest player ever to appear in the amateur event. Sixteen-year-old Justin Rose, from Hampshire, was yesterday named in a 10-man side to face the United States at Quaker Ridge in New York on August 9-10. The match begins 10 days after Rose's 17th birthday, which means he will be seven months younger than Ronan Rafferty when he played in the event in 1981. Rose, who was born in South Africa, is in a line-up this year have come in 13 starts. The only striking rate better than that was achieved, not surprisingly, by Jack Nicklaus, back in 1973 when he won seven out of 18 tournaments.

Nicklaus won $308,362 for that feat. That was the year he reached $2 million in career winnings after he had been a professional for 12 years; it took him another four to reach the $3 million mark. Woods has already won $2,551,594. Woods, the world No. 1, plays in next week's Open at Royal Troon but is not at David Davies at Loch Lomond THE phenomenal prowess of the 21-year-old Tiger Woods continues apace.

On Sunday he won his fourth tournament of the year on the US Tour, the Western Open, beating Frank Nobilo of New Zealand by three shots. Playing over the notorious Chicago course, whose name, Dubsdread, signifies its difficulty. Woods had a 13-under-par total of 27S to earn $360,000 It took his winnings to $1.76.