Darlington Mowden Park chairman John Parkinson is to act as Newcastle Falcons' business development director.

His main task will be to oversee the expansion of the club's facilities at Kingston Park and the adjoining Bullocksteads playing area.

The Falcons have to meet the Premiership's requirement for clubs to have a stadium capable of holding 10,000 people, but planning permission has yet to be granted.

Parkinson, who works in property development, has known Rob Andrew since the Falcons' Director of Rugby worked as a surveyor in London.

Mowden have lost their star New Zealander Nopera Stewart to second division Wakefield. The full back played once for Harlequins last season after impressing on Mowden's visit to the London club in the fifth round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.

l WEST Hartlepool, who are to play at the Sixth-Form College ground at Brinkburn this season, have lost three of their better players from the side which was relegated from division two last season.

Skipper Dan Hyde has joined Leeds, last season's England Students fly half James Lofthouse has gone to Otley, and England Under 19 winger Anthony Elliott is with Sale.

West could not afford to continue last season's ground-sharing arrangement with Hartlepool Rovers.

l DURHAM City are looking for new players, male and female, and newcomers would be welcome at training on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The ladies, who have been promoted to Division Two North after being unbeaten last season, stress that it is not necessary to be big to take up the game. Anyone interested should ring 0191 386 1172 and leave a message for Sara Baxter or Aelf Masding.

The club is also looking for a new medical officer to be present at home matches.

l A DURHAM County President's XV is to play Horden at the club's Welfare Park ground on August 23 (7pm) as part of a week of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the village. Horden RFC also celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

l HOLDERS Mowden Park will be away to Consett in the first round of the Durham Challenge Cup on December 2, with last season's beaten finalists Darlington at home to Gateshead.

The rest of the draw is: Horden v Winlaton Vulcans, West Hartlepool TDSOB v Durham City, Billingham v Ryton, Westoe v Houghton, Stockton v Sunderland, Blaydon v Hartlepool Rovers.

l Leeds Tykes face a tough battle on and off the pitch if they are to gain promotion to the Zurich Premiership and their new recruit, ex-All Black and Samoa fly-half Steve Bachop, could be just the man to take them there.

Bachop, who made the switch from Premiership side London Irish just over a month ago, is aware that promotion and relegation could be decided in the boardroom.

With the breakaway of Division One, clubs in Division Two know winning promotion this season is vitally important if they are to be involved in RFU plans for the 2001-2002 season.

Player-assistant coach Bachop admits: "This season is make or break for us, but we don't know what the administrators are going to do.

"It's the same for everyone in the Second Division and all the teams are preparing accordingly.

"The sooner they make the decision the better, as long as everyone agrees with it and they don't change it halfway through the season.

"The 12 Premiership clubs obviously want promotion to be decided with a play-off because they don't want to go down. But there are more than 12 clubs in this country."

Another club challenging for the top flight is Worcester, but Bachop is adamant that Leeds will not simply focus on the Midlands side in their quest for promotion.

"We're not looking at it as just Worcester and Leeds. We'll take it week by week," said the 34-year-old.

"Yes, there is Worcester and also Bedford, but we don't just see it as that. We must win each game as it comes along."

Although Bachop has dropped down a division to join Leeds, the former All Black insists he is ready for the challenges of National Clubs One and has been impressed with what he has seen so far at Headingley.

"I've fitted in pretty quickly and have enjoyed my first month. There's a good bunch of guys with a very professional attitude."