FANTASY football is proving a nightmare for North-East football fans, thanks to the failure of a national newspaper to run a popular competition smoothly.

The Daily Telegraph's Fantasy Football League kicked-off seven weeks ago - but many competitors are still waiting to receive key information.

To enable managers to make player transfers they need to have a pack drop through their letter box, which also confirms team selections and a vital pin number.

Staff at Northern Echo have witnessed the problems at first hand, with only five out of the 20 participants having received the essential details.

Northern Echo sports writer and Super League chairman Craig Stoddart said: "It's a disgrace, it's been a total farce.

"I have received my pack so it is unfair that I can bring new players in and others can't. I have sent them a couple of e-mails to ask them for the packs to be sent out but they have not replied.

"We have all paid money to be involved and by the time the others get their packs most of us will probably be miles away from the top of the table."

But it has not just been Northern Echo employees who have been left annoyed.

More than 40 players in Darlington's Red Lion Hotel's Super League have also been left waiting.

The Priestgate pub's landlord Jim Crackett, 60, and their Super League chairman said: "It's pathetic for what is supposed to be a quality newspaper. Only six of our players have received the packs and I have given up even trying to get them now.

"It's now 11 days since I lodged an official complaint and I was told that we would all be given them soon. We still have not received them. I'm just really disappointed with the way it's been handled."

Calls to the Telegraph's Reader Relations department, who deal with any queries, by Super League chairmen have proved fruitless.

Over a week ago they promised to forward the pin numbers to players in the Northern Echo League - and they have yet to arrive.

A spokesperson for the League said: "There has been delivery problems in the north west area. All packs sent in A4 envelopes have to be processed manually, but players should have had them by now.

"Everything was sent out weeks ago, but the problems have been with the Royal Mail and this is something we have been in discussions about.

"Some people have requested a resend of their pack and we are awaiting deliveries of Four Four Two magazine which are part of their packs. As soon as they are received they will be sent out.''

*Former Manchester City manager Joe Royle is suing the Maine Road club for a reported sum of £500,000.

Royle, 52, has issued a writ for unfair dismissal and is contesting the level of compensation he has already received.

City sacked Royle after their relegation from the Premiership at the end of last season and he now claims in his action that he should not have been fired.

Royle, who has already received around £200,000 in compensation from the club, said: ''The matter is in the hands of my solicitors and that is all I can say. The issues at stake are the level of settlement and unfair dismissal.''

The case appears to hinge on whether City were a Premiership or a First Division club at the time of Royle's sacking in May.

The terms of Royle's contract varied according to the division in which the club were in and it appears Royle believes City were technically a Premiership side when he left Maine Road - even though they had been relegated.

City chairman David Bernstein said: ''This is not a matter I wish to comment on, but clearly the club will strongly defend this unnecessary action.''