Ian Cusack explains why Darlington and Hartlepool United are synonymous with the term 'perennial strugglers'

Imagine the scenario: a resurgent North Eastern club, managed by an ex-international captain, playing the best football in their history and seemingly certain to be rewarded with a major prize, inexplicably falter in the closing weeks of the season and chuck it away on the final day. The next season begins with an air of gloom despite a major signing and rumours of a relocation to a brand new stadium. Eventually the board accept one of the frustrated manager’s numerous offers to resign and replace him with a former manager and former player.

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Non-League football in the north-east was once a rich source of playing talent for the professional game, but many of its clubs are in crisis now. Harry Pearson reports

Shotton Colliery Recreation Ground on a damp Saturday in January. Shotton Comrades are taking on Ferryhill Athletic. Beyond the perimeter fence on one side of the pitch is a small airfield. Every fifteen minutes or so light planes take off to drop sky divers. During dull moments of play you can watch the parachutists spiralling slowly earthward.

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Ian Cusack reports on the way the local media handled the departure of Kevin Keegan

I happened to be in Newcastle city centre at 10.30 am when the story of Kevin Keegan’s resignation broke, so I saw the stage-managed outpourings of false emotion at first hand. The sudden nature of the departure made it a perfect opportunity for soundbite and snapshot.

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Rob Trent & Gavin Meaden profile Bournemouth's ownership

Who’s in charge at Bournemouth? Well, we’re not sure. Prior to the receivers being called in, the club has been in a state of turmoil, resignations from the board at one stage leaving us with only two directors. The general perception amongst the supporters is that Norman Hayward is now top bod. A month before that it was Ken Gardiner, who ‘resigned’ through ‘ill-health’.

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Neil McCarthy explains why Arsenal's attempt to buy a teenager from Paris St Germain has incurred the wrath of the French football authorities

On the eve of Paris Saint Germain’s Super Cup match against Juventus, PSG announced that Arsène Wenger was attempting to “poach” one of their youth players, the 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka. The televizing of the Super Cup match was an excellent opportunity for eminent figures in French football such as Michel Platini and Noël Le Graët to denounce Arsenal’s move and, as PSG certainly hoped, the affair has become a major issue.

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