Lots of interest in west London for the Fulham post. Former Fulham favourite John Collins is in pole position to replace sacked boss Lawrie Sanchez (various).

Another coach looking for a Harrods Christmas hamper is incumbent Croatia boss and former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic (The Sun). And former England and Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle is also said to be interested in the job and has been seen watching recent home matches (Independent).

Stewart Downing has demanded an end to his Middlesbrough contract after being upset by booing fans at the Riverside (Daily Mirror). Methinks this is PR-speak for one of the big four coming in with a move for the highly-rated player. In showbiz, the PR agencies get their clients on the Jonathan Ross chat show to plug a book, in football they get their charges on the back pages of the tabloids. You don't need the millionaires from Dragon's Den to make you money, just open a PR agency.

'You don't need the millionaires from Dragon's Den to make you money, just open a PR agency'


El Hadji Diouf will follow Nicolas Anelka out of Bolton during the January transfer window, with Portsmouth waiting in the wings to sign him (Daily Mirror). See above paragraph on Downing for details on this double rumour.

Barcelona have warned Chelsea and AC Milan that Brazil star Ronaldinho will not be leaving them in the January transfer window (The Sun). I was lousy at maths at school (slide-rule days) but I do remember that two negatives make a positive so expect to see Ronaldinho at, er, Chelsea or AC Milan.

Liverpool's England striker Peter Crouch faces the threat of a possible 'racism' probe after implying foreign players cheat following his red card for the two-footed lunge on Chelsea's Jon Obi Mikel (The Sun).

Fabio Capello will have to understand that club football takes priority over the international team for England fans and players (Guardian). He ought to, there is no country more passionate about clubs over country than Italy. In Italia 90 I remember being told by a fan that on the day the Azzurri were playing a group match, he went to watch a Milan youth team training session.

David Beckham is determined to win his 100th England cap on February 6 - even though it is before his club season with LA Galaxy starts (Daily Star). Without wishing to sound cynical (who me?...get on with it, Ed), I would meekly suggest that the PR company behind Brand Beckham had it carved into the Galaxy contract that our glorious world leader would play 100 games for England.

Michael Ballack was taunted by one his Chelsea colleagues about whether he puts his towels on sun-loungers while on holiday (Daily Mirror). Apparently the German international retorted something about failure to qualify for Euro 2008. I wasn't privy to this earth-shattering exchange of views but I will say this; the word 'lounger' and 'throwing in the towel' are not far from the tip of the old tongue when referring to one Michael Ballack.