Football: French post times for World Cup

Those football fans who like to book their favourite armchair well in advance might like to know that next summer's World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris will kick-off at 8pm British Summer Time.

However, settling down to watch the opening game of the 32-nation tournament - featuring England, Scotland and possibly the Republic of Ireland - on 10 June will mean kicking the cat off its favourite cushion before 4.30pm.

The workers will not miss out entirely, with all 10 World Cup stadia, apart from the Stade Lescure in Bordeaux, staging at least one after-dinner match because of the problems the setting sun causes TV cameras.

First-round matches will kick-off at 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm and 8pm. Second- round and quarter-final matches will start at either 3.30pm, or 8pm, while semi-final action will begin at 8pm.

The Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert should complete a pounds 1.7m move to Celtic from Borussia Dortmund tomorrow. Lambert will end his career in Germany after tonight's Champions' League match against Parma. David Hay, dismissed as Celtic manager 10 years ago, has been sacked as the club's assistant general manager.

Colin Hendry, the Blackburn defender and a key member of Scotland's World Cup squad, is to see a specialist about the knee injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw at Barnsley last weekend.

Peter Beardsley's unhappy spell at Bolton may lead to an approach from his former Liverpool team-mate Kevin Keegan, now at Fulham. John McGinlay's move to promotion chasing Bradford City is off after Bolton refused to lower their pounds 620,000 valuation.

Nottingham Forest have made an offer for the Everton striker Graham Stuart.