The rise in players' wages continues to grow at an alarming rate, causing Deloitte and Touche to call for clubs to show a harder stance during negotiations

The strangest publication to arrive at WSC for a long time was a glossy bro­chure called, with no apparent sense of irony, UEFA Champions League: A solidarity system for European football. Published in February this year, it appears to form part of UEFA’s campaign to head off any attempt to challenge the central marketing of TV rights to the Champions League.

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Saturday 3 Liverpool's first derby win in ten attempts, 3-2 at Anfield, is overshadowed by a row over Robbie Fowler's celebration when scoring the first of his two goals, when he mimics snorting cocaine from the white line, geddit, of the penalty area. Gerard Houllier, game for a laugh, claims Fowler was pretending to eat grass but the FA are expected to whip out another of their misconduct charges. Chelsea and Leeds make ground at the top after beating Charlton and Forest while Man Utd are held 1-1 by Wimbledon and Arsenal get a goalless draw at Southampton. In the First Division, Sunderland's 11th successive home win, 3-0 over West Brom, equals a club record. Ipswich stay second after thrashing Swindon 6-0 at the County Ground.

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Wednesday 31 In Euro 2000 qualifiers, Scotland lose 2-1 to the Czech Republic, their first home defeat in a competitive match since 1987. "If we win in Prague we'll be back in contention," says the perennially chipper Craig Brown. Sweden's 1-0 win in Poland means England are unlikely to do better than second place in their group. There are disappointing results too for Wales, beaten 2-0 in Switzerland, and Northern Ireland, held to a goalless draw in Moldova. To howls of protest from the clubs battling to finish fifth, Newcastle are guaranteed a European place after it is announced that one of England's three UEFA Cup places must go to one of the last four teams left in the FA Cup. "I wonder if UEFA's attitude would have been the same if Barnsley were one of the semi-finalists," mutters John Gregory. Crystal Palace appoint a new administrator and obtain a High Court order allowing them to remain in business. South≠ampton receive planning permission to build a 32,000 seater stadium on the site of an old gasworks. Alan Little is the new manager of Southend.

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Dear WSC
As a Wimbledon supporter I am often frustrated by the lack of a uniquely id­en­­tifiable song, and some people might also feel the lack of a mascot. The fact that we have the best educated supporters in the country and our nickname of “Dons” set me thinking. For a mascot we could have a middle-aged man in a chalky tweed suit, gown and mortar board, carrying a large book, Plato’s Republic, or the Faerie Queene, say. As a special treat for the kiddies, perhaps he could recruit them for MI6 or the KGB over sherry. As for a song, the school song, Gaud­eanus Igitur (Let them rejoice) would suffice. It would be particularly appropriate for its second verse with the lines “Vivat Academia, Vivat Professores”, loosely translated as “Long Live Academica, Come on You Dons”.I hope all Wombles will aid my campaign to make this song as famous as You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Aled Thomas, Cheltenham

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They may be rushing the exits at Loftus Road thse days but, as Anthony Hobbs explains, at least they're doing it in comfort thanks to an enigmatic stroller

Littered around the country are grounds and bits of grounds bearing the name of a local hero. Preston have even put a picture of theirs on the seats in case you forget who he is. What fine tributes these are to the skills of past masters, lovingly constructed to en­sure that the memory of a great player lives on long after he has gone.

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