An imbalance that has done for one captain and may yet do for another If that sounds at all encouraging, it shouldn't. Apart from a lack of quality fast bowlers or a match-winning leg-spinner, these are the problems that have haunted England's cricket since the decline of Ian Botham in the mid-1980s. IN some ways it was fitting that England ended their tour with a rout in Port of Spain, a place where, just two months earlier, they had looked capable of competing with, if not beating, the West Indies. Yet, as so often is the case with England cricket teams, early form was misleading, and once again the scoreline reflected more their failure to sustain a competitive edge under pressure than any imbalance in ability. Cotton and Brittle, meanwhile, intend to hold "grass roots" meetings in Taunton, Rugby, Huddersfield and Twickenham over the next fortnight as a prelude to yet another Special General Meeting of the RFU.. But while the short-lived decision of Keith Barwell, the Northampton owner, to withhold his players from England's summer tour of the southern hemisphere left the RFU temporarily open to IB sanction, there is no suggestion that a perfectly legal approach to the EU could land the union in hot disciplinary water.Union negotiators were scheduled to meet with their club counterparts yesterday to begin the search for a peaceful solution.
Our hope is that the talks with the union will result in the OFT and EC inquiries becoming redundant." It was Brook who led last week's marginalisation of Brittle, the management board chairman, a move that led to Cotton's resignation on Saturday.Cotton's talk of World Cup explusion appeared based on letters received from a number of major unions, including New Zealand and Australia, during the recent "Northampton Three" affair. Indeed, they have never made any secret of their planned recourse to the law. "The fact of the matter is that the clubs have intrinsic commercial rights that are sacrosanct and enshrined in European Union law," said Ash, a graduate of the Harvard Business School. "As a result of the RFU's previous intransigence, regulations are now being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading and the EC [EU]."However, the EC submission was made at the end of last month, prior to the intervention of Peter Brook, the RFU president. Doug Ash, the chief executive of English First Division Rugby, called the allegations "ludicrous".The clubs admit they have put a number of points to the EU, alleging that restrictive practices are built into IB regulations. The authorities would be allowed to schedule Test matches only with the agreement of a handful of senior clubs, who would release players only as and when they thought fit.
If it goes through, it's World War Three."All of which sent club activists spluttering into their business suits and reaching for the nearest denial button. Cotton brandished a copy of the clubs' legal application to the European Commission for clarification of commercial and contractual rights, claiming its very existence exposed the latest peace RFU peace initiative as a "sham" and posed a real threat to England's participation in next year's showpiece. "This issue transcends petty jealousies and internal squabbling and I'm not taking this stand for reasons of ambition or self-aggrandizement," he insisted. "The clubs' document challenges IB and RFU control of international fixture scheduling and the primacy of international rugby. Egged on by Cliff Brittle and Clive Woodward, the recently resigned former vice-chairman of the Rugby Football Union's management board painted a conspiratorial scenario so dastardly the word "nightmare" was rendered inadequate.
Father Alex, Aberdeen manager and Scotland's No 2, could also be reunited with his son next season with The Dons hovering above the drop in the Premier Division.. FRAN COTTON is either a legal sleuth straight from the pages of a John Grisham novel or the greatest scaremonger since Alfred Hitchcock. The biggest personality in the British game took up the political cudgels again yesterday, accusing professional clubs of plotting an overthrow of the International Board, the governing body of world rugby, and raising the spectre of England's expulsion from the 1999 World Cup. The pair were also together at Wolves between 1991 and 1994, the year when both left the club.Greg and Alex MillerGreg's transfer from Hibernian to Scottish Second Division club Livingston last week could prove to be a temporary step down with Hibs anchored to the bottom of the Premier Division and Livingston in an automatic promotion spot. Mark showed his father what he had missed out on when he scored for Telford against Hereford in the 1-1 draw in the Vauxhall Conference clash in February. Like his father, Craig's career is on the up having signed for Chesterfield from non-League Chorley on transfer deadline day. County have already confirmed their promotion to the Second Division.Paul and Kenny DalglishDad has closely followed Paul's progress while he has been on loan at First Division Bury.
The 21-year-old striker has started just one game since his move in November and will rejoin dad at the end of the season.Mark and Graham TurnerMark left dad, the Hereford United manager, to join Telford United at the end of last season. Tomorrow: Ivybridge Town v Dartmouth Utd (11.0); Plymstock Utd v Appledore (2.0); Elburton Villa v Plymouth Command (4.30); Plymouth Parkway v Weston Mill Oak Villa (7.15).. If needed, he will no doubt do what he did at Newton Abbot Spurs on Tuesday - don his wellies and help to fork the pitch.Last Easter 236 hoppers bought advance tickets for the weekend. Frank Snr's wife is the sister of manager Harry Redknapp's wife, which makes Frank Jnr Harry's nephew.Craig and Sam AllardyceCraig had trials for his dad's team, Notts County, after Sam joined the club as manager in January 1997. A World Cup place for Jamie and a European place for the Hammers and the Redknapp house will be a happy place come May.Frank Lampard Snr and JnrFrank Jnr has established himself in the West Ham first team, while father has watched proudly as assistant manager. As well as doing Spurs no favours, this could have cost Ian a possible England World Cup place.