CHAIRMEN and corruption seem to be prominent in the sporting world at the moment. Not that I'm suggesting the two go together in any way, you understand, but power can corrupt in any walk of life and football is a minefield.

So is racing, and it has always been my opinion that dodgy dealings are all part of the steeplechase in the equine world and are accepted by the punters and racehorse owners who sustain it.

But a judge has accused a trainer and a bloodstock agent of bribery and fraud, prompting the Jockey Club to call a meeting of all relevant organisations in an attempt to combat corruption in the buying and selling of horses.

It is, of course, merely coincidence that this should occur when Sir Alex Ferguson appears to be up to his hind quarters in wranglings with the Irish mafia over both racing and footballing matters.

His claim against John Magnier for a half share of the stud rights to Rock of Gibraltar is not due to be heard in Dublin until next year, which gives them plenty of time to settle out of court and prevent a whole heap of dirty washing being exposed.

In the meantime, Magnier, who owns 25.49 per cent of Manchester United in partnership with J P McManus, is clearly determined to make things very awkward for Ferguson.

The question of how much Sir Alex's son, Jason, has raked off as an agent in some of United's transfer dealings continues to raise its ugly head, and Magnier is not going to let it drop.

It was also the Irishman's pressure which resulted in the manager being awarded no more than a one-year rolling contract when his current deal expires in the summer.

DESPITE the shenanigans, with his new deal said to be worth £4m a year, Sir Alex will not be short of a bob or two. In fact, he could probably afford to buy Darlington FC.

He must be bored with winning English trophies, and while he obviously relishes winning the Champions League he's done it once so what greater challenge could he have than resurrecting the Quakers?

While last weekend's fund-raising matches were a huge success, the revenue will do little more than pay the administrators' fees.

It always strikes me as counter-productive that when these highly-paid experts come in to sort out the financial mess, from somewhere among the rubble their own fees have to be found.

When George Reynolds called them in it was either an admission that he had lost control or his way of sticking up two fingers at the people of Darlington for not supporting him as he felt they should.

Either way, it quickly became clear that the club was in an even more appalling mess than suspected, and after the wonderful rallying round from last Sunday's performers begging letters to the likes of Sir Alex might be the next step.

GEORGE'S exit means there is now only one Reynolds in charge of a northern football club - Scarborough chairman Malcolm Reynolds.

He must be laughing all the way to the bank after Chelsea's visit to the Theatre of Chips took the club's FA Cup earnings over £500,000.

Darlington fans might reflect that it's a cruel world, but they should console themselves with the knowledge that Scarborough very nearly went out of existence and now they have a bright new future.

STILL talking of chairmen, I note that the youngest one in the League, Gordon Gibb, has walked out at Bradford City. The owner of Flamingoland, he was mentioned here a few weeks ago after appointing Bryan Robson and Colin Todd as managers. It was a bold move, but unfortunately his ambition was either shortlived or short-sighted and it's looking like an inauspicious return to management for Robbo.

I HAVE always thought Paul Gascoigne and Darren Gough were peas from a similar pod. Both very talented, but daft as brushes and fragile. Gazza and Dazzler - they should put on a roadshow like Beefy and Lamb did a few years ago.

Gazza obviously loved being the centre of attention at the Reynolds Arena last Sunday and Gough will be enjoying the current haggling over his services now he has quit Yorkshire.

But he'll be like Beefy Botham - without the carrot of playing for England he will soon get bored with county cricket.

WHILE we wait breathlessly for Audley Harrison's next fight, you could be forgiven for missing the fact that we have a new British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion.

But the deposed Danny Williams has lodged an appeal after his points loss to Reading's Michael Sprott, who even looked surprised himself when he was awarded the verdict at Wembley on Saturday.

It sounds like the whole business further fuelled the farce that heavyweight boxing has become.