The Office of Fair Trading maintains that the deals - which forbid the clubs from making individual television deals with broadcasters - are not in the public interest and that the public should have a wider choice of televised football. When asked why individual bargaining would be bad for the game, Bates - called as a witness by the League - said that some clubs would ignore their responsibilities to the wider game to try to cash in on their popularity. His combative talents were badly missed in the Wembley defeat against France last week, when England lacked anyone to play in the protective role in front of the back four.. Batty suffered the injury on his debut for the Elland Road against Coventry in December following his pounds 4.5m move from Newcastle and has not played since.With Paul Ince already suspended for what is a crucial game, the central midfield roles are open to dispute, leaving players such as Nicky Butt Kieron Dyer and Batty's Leeds team-mate, Lee Bowyer, with the chance to stake their claims for regular international selection.The loss of Batty will be a major blow to the national side, with a place in the Euro 2000 finals in the balance following a disappointing start to the qualifying campaign. So why should this one be moved if he decides to team up with England on a part-time basis?"The FA has already intimated that it would grant Keegan leave of absence for the friendly in Hungary, on 28 April, if he felt that Fulham's League position required his presence at Craven Cottage.Roy Hodgson, the former Blackburn manager who took Switzerland to the World Cup finals in 1994, yesterday endorsed Keegan's candidature, saying he was a "good and experienced" manager. Walsall, who lie one place and two points behind the London club, yesterday stressed their unwillingness to switch their home game against Fulham from the day of Poland's visit to Wembley in order to preclude any clash of interests for the England coach-elect.Walsall's commercial director, Roy Whalley, argued that rescheduling would cause a "big upheaval" for his club, who have sold more than 2,000 tickets for the game. Keegan has 18 months left on his contract, although al-Fayed cleared the way for a compromise by granting Davies permission to approach him.The club-versus-country debate has resurfaced in relation to England's pursuit of Keegan, even if the club concerned were not Fulham.
It would be a major surprise if the 48-year-old from a South Yorkshire mining family did not now become England's ninth "permanent" manager.The only fly in the ointment is Keegan's desire to do the decent thing by Fulham and see through their promotion campaign. To actually be asked to lead one's country is, however, a different matter from being pressed to comment on speculation. KEVIN KEEGAN'S appointment as England coach moved a step closer last night after the Football Association's king-makers, David Davies and Noel White, travelled to the northeast to discuss the vacancy with the man currently working under the title of Chief Operating Officer at Second Division Fulham. Davies, the FA's acting chief executive, and White, the Liverpool director who is chairman of the International Committee, visited Keegan at the home he retains from his time in charge of Newcastle United. "He was fine this morning," protested his trainer, Nicky Henderson. But then Doumen had said that over the croissants.Racing, page 22.
"I feel sad for the kid, but at the price I could not advise my client to say no.'' Hors La Loi III was promoted to 6-1 joint favourite for the Triumph Hurdle on the back of this news, while there were doubts about the other joint favourite, Katarino. His combative talents were badly missed in the Wembley defeat against France last week, when England lacked anyone to play the protective role in front of the back four. Nicky Butt, Lee Bowyer and even Kieron Dyer of Ipswich Town may now be considered for selection.. THE WORLD Cup is one thing, but England is clearly not allowed to let slip to the French another trophy it holds most dear. Hors La Loi III was a Gallic hope for the Triumph Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival until it was announced yesterday he had been purchased for the yard of Britain's leading trainer, Martin Pipe If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em. The four-year-old gelding has been unbeaten in two runs in Britain this year for Francois Doumen, who has already taken Cheltenham's greatest prize, the Gold Cup, with The Fellow The horse would have been ridden by his son Thierry "He's sold," the trainer admitted last night.