Soccer: Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers fans were yesterday united in their opposition to any merger between the two London clubs. An outline proposal is understood to have already been submitted to the English Football League, with the matter being discussed by the boards of both clubs.
However any suggestion of a merger has been met with fierce opposition from supporters groups who claim they will do all they can to fight the deal from getting off the ground.
The Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association declared that they "unequivocally oppose the merger of two separate identities, families, supporters and histories".
Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR 1st, the QPR Supporters Trust, also insisted that any proposed merger would be vigorously opposed. While confirming that talks have started, Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel insisted that no final agreement had yet been reached between the two clubs.
Meanwhile, the Football League confirmed that their board had discussed the issue and would "give favourable consideration to any proposal".
Boxing: Ireland's squad of national champions, with the exception of injured super-heavyweight John Kinsella, moved to their training quarters at the NCTC in Limerick yesterday to prepare, under Nicholas Cruz, for the World Championships in Belfast next month.
The IABA have invited the French and British squads to join them before they move on to Belfast in four weeks' time. Kinsella, one of Ireland's main hopes for a medal, sustained a hand injury in the Home Nations in Liverpool recently but hopes to link-up with the 11 other Irish champions next week.
Swimming: Top Australian coach, Russian-born Gennadi Touretski, pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of possessing the banned performance-enhancing steroid Stanozolol. Touretski, who has been in hiding since being charged with the offence on April 10th, appeared in court in Canberrra but said nothing.
The charge under the Poisons and Drugs Act carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison but Touretski, suspended on full pay from his job as senior coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, would be banned from swimming for life if found guilty.
Squash: Ireland number one Derek Ryan and Liam Kenny notched up first round wins at the Italian Open Championships in Brescia. Ryan was made to work for his success before overcoming Italy's Jose Facchini 15-12, 1512, 10-15, 15-12 but Kenny was always in control after the first game as he romped to a 1513, 15-4, 15-3 victory.
