Wellock's World

Such gobbledegook is worthy of the utmost ridicule, although it is only what we have come to expect from task groups, think tanks, review bodies or any panel of so-called experts.

Is there any wonder that so little actually gets done? Wembley offers the most scandalous example of paralysis by analysis, and it has now emerged that the government want the board of Wembley National Stadium Limited to be reorganised before they finally approve the rebuilding of the stadium.

This posed a threat to WNSL chairman Sir Rodney Walker, who resigned yesterday. He was seen as the saviour of the project when he succeeded the much-maligned Ken Bates.

Kate Hoey, Sports Minister at the time of Bates's removal, this week laid the blame squarely on his shoulders for removing athletics from the Wembley equation.

She accuses football authorities of "hijacking" the project shortly after £120m of Lottery money had been granted on the understanding that athletics would be included.

It is now three years since that money was awarded and Hoey says: "It is outrageous for the richest sport in the country to be subsidised by £120m of Lottery money for a football-only stadium."

She also revealed that, contrary to the Lottery agreement, the government would allow nothing to get in the way of the World Cup bid, which helped to give them "street cred."

The World Cup bid cost £10m and earned two paltry votes, and still there is no agreement, with the cost of rebuilding Wembley now estimated at £715m and rising.

SO, it could be some time before Middlesbrough dream of Wembley again. Instead their reward for beating Arsenal in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final will be a trip to the hooligan hotbed of Cardiff.

I predicted a while ago that Boro's bubble would burst with a semi-final drubbing by one of the London clubs, but I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

An all-London final would plunge me into a deep depression, and with only Boro standing in the way it's a great shame that they will lack the spark provided recently by the Cup-tied Benito Carbone.

The 30-year-old Italian has the talent to inspire the same affection in Boro fans as Juninho, and he says he would like to end his career on Teesside. But how can Steve McClaren judge whether a man who has already had ten clubs is really ready to settle down?

There are some tough decisions ahead for the Boro boss, but considering his team were back in the relegation mire two months ago, he has done a remarkable job in lifting them into the top half, despite the FA Cup distraction.

KEVIN Keegan will be back in the Premiership with Manchester City next season, and with Arthur Cox as his No 2. There are those who think Cox has had a charisma bypass, but Keegan has remained incredibly loyal to him since playing under his managership at Newcastle.

When he broke his silence about his resignation from the England job this week, Keegan revealed that he had wanted Cox on his coaching staff, only to be told the FA wouldn't give a full-time post to someone over 60.

So why, Keegan wants to know, is 63-year-old Tord Grip employed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant?

THERE was no dancing in the streets of Cardiff on Sunday as the incomparable Bill McLaren bowed out by presiding over a match even his dulcet tones could not bring to life.

It was also farewell from one of the few world-class Welsh players of recent years, Rob Howley, and he received depressing proof that there is no room for sentiment in sport these days when he was taken off after 63 minutes. His former teammate Scott Gibbs described the decision as "appalling" and so it was.

McLaren feels the Welsh team of the 70s provided the highlights of his commentary years and it was a nice touch that former Welsh internationals sent him a crystal bowl with the inscription: "In appreciation - on behalf of all the magicians and pit props, past and present."

It also turned out to be farewell to the Scotland team from one of their kilted Kiwis, John Leslie, who flattered to deceive during his first season with them and was a big flop during his brief time at Newcastle.

FOOTBALLERS' injuries made front and back page headlines yesterday. In the former case the damage was inflicted outside a Middlesbrough pub and evoked no sympathy; in the latter it occurred during the heat of European combat and filled the nation with dread.

Jonathan Woodgate would struggle to stay out of trouble in a monastery in Outer Mongolia, whereas for all his extravagances David Beckham leads a largely blameless existence. The loss of one for the rest of the season is an irritation only to Leeds; the loss of the other seriously undermines our World Cup hopes.

Published: 12/04/2002