FOOTBALL: Standing allowed

NEWCASTLE UNITED will be the only FA Premier League club with terrace fans next season. All Premier League and First Division clubs were given until this summer to convert to all-seater requirements but Peter Brooke, the National Heritage Secretary, has given a year's extension to Newcastle after they 'presented a sufficiently exceptional case.'

Newcastle's Gallowgate Stand opens at the start of the season, when the all-seater capacity will be 30,000, with about 4,000 further standing supporters allowed.

Brooke, however, confirmed his earlier verdict not to grant terrace redevelopment extra-time to Barnsley, Chelsea, Manchester City, Oldham or Swindon. He had already granted 12-month extensions to Derby, Grimsby, Middlesborough, Portsmouth and Sunderland - clubs which are engaged in relocating to new stadia.

Clubs promoted into the (now) First Division since 1991 were given three years from the date of their elevation to meet the all-seater demands. That includes Bolton (promoted in 1993), Burnley (1994), Port Vale (1994), Reading (1994), Stoke (1993) and West Bromwich (1993).

Sir Bert Millichip, the Football Association chairman, will make an early return from the World Cup to head the panel which will consider Tottenham's appeal, due to be heard early next month, against the punishments imposed when the club was found guilty of making irregular payments. Spurs were fined pounds 600,000, banned from the FA Cup and docked 12 points next season.

Tommy McLean has been confirmed as the new manager of Heart of Midlothian. McLean, who resigned as a director and manager of Motherwell at the end of last season, replaces Sandy Clark, who was sacked on Monday.