Newcastle in running for new venture

Athletics

Jonathan Edwards may follow Rob Andrew's path to St James' Park if informal discussions with Newcastle United Sporting Club prove fruitful next week, writes Mike Rowbottom.

The world triple jump champion, who lives in the Newcastle suburb of Heaton, has been invited to talk about the possibility of athletics being added to the club's current portfolio of sports - rugby union, ice hockey and, of course, football.

"This might be a great way of channelling funds to the grass roots of athletics as well as helping elite athletes," Edwards said.

Mike Elrick, a Sporting Club spokesman, said that incorpo rating athletics was "a long-term vision", but he added: "We would be daft to say we are not looking into the future of athletics in the North-east."

Competing in the United strip appeals to Edwards. But as a Christian he said he would have to consider his position carefully before sporting the sponsorship logo of a brewery.