The last thing clubs in crisis need is squabbling, whether within their bored or with their own supporters. We investigate the plunging finances and legal fees

Of all the things football clubs should be spending money on, lawyers would have to be near the bottom of anyone’s list. The case of New­castle United, however, in which they are being sued by their own fans, may prove to have last­ing significance. As has been widely publicised, the club sold bonds for £500 which app­eared to guarantee fans the right to a seat for ten years (“your name will be fixed permanently to your seat” promised Kevin Keeg­­an ). With the expansion of the ground, however, the club are now proposing to move 4,000 season ticket holders in the Milburn and Lea­zes stands, including some bond holders, to less attractive positions, so that their current seats can be used for corporate hospitality.

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Hampden Park's refurbishment has been expensive, unwanted and left Queens Park struggling for survival. Gary Oliver reports

Critics deride the project as having been profligate, ostentatious and a monument to vanity – not the Millennium Dome, but refurbished Hampden Park, which has begun the new century facing another financial crisis. The transformed 52,000-capacity ground continues to be owned by Third Division Queen’s Park and its rebuilding was administered by a subsidiary of the club, National Stadium plc. However, a three-year £65 million makeover has left the amateur club crippled by debt.

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Dave Jones has been replaced for a year as Southampton manager by Glenn Hoddle. The move has been marketed as an opportunity for Jones to take time out and clear his name. Tim Springett is unconvinced

The removal of Dave Jones from the manager’s job at Southampton has been described in various quarters as a compassionate move. Jones’s trial on 17 alleged offences against chil­dren arising from his employment as a social wor­ker a decade ago has been set to begin on Nov­ember 27. A club statement on January 28 in­dicated that Jones had been given 12 months’ leave of absence to prepare his defence, during which time Glenn Hoddle would be keeping the manager’s chair warm for him.

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A peculiarly British arrogance is at play over the release of players for the African Nations Cup

The African Nations Cup has been in existence for over 40 years, making it slightly older than the European Championship. Until very recently, this biennial competition has received almost no media coverage here. Now, however, vir­tually every column on the sports pages has something to say about the effect it is having on the English season.

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Monday 3 “Man Utd will be laughing in Brazil,” says David O’Leary as Gareth Southgate scores the Villa goals that beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road, while Arsenal are held to a draw at Sheffield Wed and Sunderland lose 1-0 at Wimbledon, where the officials fail to spot Nicky Summerbee being elbowed in the face by Ben Thatcher in the build-up to the game’s only goal. Branko Strupar, the Belgian Croat, scores the first Premiership goal of the 21st century and adds a second as Derby sink Watford deeper into trouble. Southampton move three points clear of third-bottom Bradford after beating them 1-0. The Nigerian FA will demand that Arsenal be dismissed from this season’s FA Cup if they refuse to let Kanu join his country’s African Nations Cup squad until after next weekend’s tie with Leicester.

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