The Newcastle United chairman and chief executive Freddie Fletcher yesterday announced he would stand down, prompting a self-congratulatory, almost ebullient mood among members of the Toon Army.
Fletcher, known as "the Rottweiler", became the focus of supporter disenchantment last month when a small group of Newcastle fans took on the club in the high court as a long-running dispute over season tickets and bonds reached its climax.
As the 59-year-old Fletcher prepared to leave St James' Park, a variety of supporters' groups insisted yesterday that he was the fall guy for the high-profile court case which has further tarnished the club's deteriorating image.
Aston Villa's Dion Dublin was given the green light yesterday for a dramatic return to action within the next two weeks after breaking his neck early in the season.
The England striker has been given the go-ahead by doctors to start playing again - and is pencilled in for a reserve run-out inside the next fortnight.
The odds on a Manchester United v Chelsea final in the Champions' League have drifted dramatically after Chelsea failed to win their group.
The two Premiership clubs could now be drawn to play each other in the quarter-final, or semi-final, when the draw is made in Switzerland today. An all-English final in Paris is priced 16 to 1 with William Hill. It had been 5 to 1 until Chelsea lost at home to Lazio and finished runners-up behind the Italians in Group D.
Sunderland yesterday broke new ground in the Premiership by signing Milton Nunez for a fee of Stg£1.6million.
The striker is the first Honduran to play in the Premier League and could be set for a home debut against Everton tomorrow after signing a four-year deal and securing a work permit.
Aston Villa have failed to reach agreement with striker Benito Carbone over a new long-term contract before yesterday's transfer deadline.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have signed 17-year-old Arturo Bernhardt on a two-year-deal from FC Hamburger in Porto Allegro.
Celtic have completed the signing of teenage striker Paul Shields from Raith Rovers. The 18-year-old completed a medical at Parkhead yesterday and put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Anelka returns to Real life
Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka arrived back in Madrid yesterday after spending eight days at home in France following his 45-day suspension for missing training without permission.
The 21-year-old international striker, who fled Madrid on March 15th, is expected to resume training with Spanish giants Real Madrid, but alone and with a personal trainer.
