Book reviews

Martin O'Neill confounded the pundits and delighted Leicester fans by declining the chance to move to a bigger club. Stephen Wagg looks at how the voluble barrack-room lawyer came to hold Filbert Street in the palm of his hand

It’s October 19th 1998, on a chilly evening at Filbert Street. Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur are awaiting permission to kick off from BSkyB producers. “OK everyone, here comes Martin,” Leicester City PRO Alan Birchenall bellows into the microphone. The crowd stirs. “Now he doesn’t know I’m doing this,” thunders Birchenall, “but if you really want to keep Martin here at the club, SHOW HIM WHAT YOU THINK OF HIM!” Most of the 20,000 spectators jump to their feet and, amid a crescendo of noise, brandish “Don’t Go Martin” posters (issued by the local newspaper) above their heads.

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Scotland's media have been unimpressed by novel approaches to management at Celtic. Gary Oliver describes the rum goings-on at Parkhead

While the rest of the press spent the month of September debating whether Bill Clinton remained fit for office, Scotland’s football writers had already begun an impeachment. Celtic’s general manager Jock Brown was the accused, his grand jury appearance at the club’s annual general meeting allowing various hacks to be Kenneth Starr for a day.

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A healthy relationship between Tranmere's and Everton's chairmen could lead to all kinds of benefits for Rovers, couldn't it? Tony Morris explains why it is the complete opposite

Frank Corfe Resigns. Not a headline to shake the foundations of British football, but nevertheless important to supporters of Tranmere Rovers. After 11 years with the club, the last four as chairman, Corfe announced his intention to sell his 86 per cent stake in Rovers following a 1-1 home draw with Bristol City. His stated reason? He was booed during a half-time presentation on the pitch. A post-match press conference was hastily arranged, fans and media alike assuming it was to announce the sale of goalkeeper Steve Simonsen to Everton. Although observers were wrong about that, they were right to think that the Simonsen deal was behind the drama.

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Revolutionary times at Fir Park, where the board has been cutting prices and attracting bigger crowds. David Innes reports on their crazy, madcap schemes

Motherwell FC are not a very fashionable side. We have the dubious honour of having lost more Premier League games than any other team, due to the fact that we have avoided relegation narrowly in the majority of seasons since we were promoted in 1985.

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Boyd Hilton tells us why the widespread opinion of the ex-Arsenal boss is wide of the mark

Anyone even vaguely interested in football thinks they know what George Graham stands for. So when Alan Sugar (allegedly vaguely interested in football) decides to bung George a few million, even he must have had a pretty good idea what he is going to get for his money. Sugar is investing in a pragmatic philosophy of winning at the expense of everything else. Success first, style second; the apparent opposite of the Spurs credo over the years.

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