A FORMER accountant, Veronica Guerin brings a forensic eye for detail to her investigative work, writes Alan Murdoch. Relentless and steel-willed, she initially specialised in international fraud inquiries for the Sunday Business Post, travelling to South Africa, Cyprus and Nigeria to put allegations to alleged criminals, a risky practice she has kept up in striving for the fullest account of events.

Jim White believes Wednesday night's self-destructive act was almost in evitable

Margaret Atkins writes this week about the role of the imagination in o ur knowledge of the everyday world: she is a student of philosophy and theology .

Arts Thinker, Painter, Scholar, Spy A Late Show special on the late mole and art expert Anthony Blunt, whose work on Nicholas Poussin is coming under scrutiny once more, thanks to the Royal Academy's exhibition of the artist's work. Mon 11.15pm BBC2

FOOTBALL :Old Trafford breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday following the news that Mark Hughes has not damaged his knee ligaments. It was feared that the Manchester United striker had sustained a possible career-threatening injury in S unday'sgame at Newcastle.

Today I bring you once again our Celebrity Spotter Guide, a regular account of the movements of the famous, so that you can keep an eye on where the VIPs are today, what they will be doing and whether you will be likely to bump into them.

Nick Donaldson finds Kevin Keegan is still king of the Newcastle terrac es

"Forget Camilla, the only separation that counted yesterday was Andy Cole and Newcastle United, a love affair seemingly made in heaven." Telegraph "Who will fill the Cole hole?" Sun "Cole should be extremely grateful. He is a fine player but not one who should yet believe too much in his own publicity." Mail "Cole can be a remote figure and a difficult workman. In keeping his counsel amid the uproar on Tyneside, Keegan may be saying more than we know." Express "Racism, a blight that affected us more than most clubs, was already on its way out. But Coley sped it on its way." Independent "To view the deal in market forces is dangerous . . . Cole is flesh and blood, vulnerable. He needs, as never before, a personal relationship with his new manager." Times "Net King Cole." Mirror "Dalglish is recovering from an appendix operation so it is safe to say that the Blackburn manager was in stitches when he learned that Ferguson had decided to bring Cole to Old Trafford." Guardian "To him, football is a craft, not an art. He engaged the Geordies' heart, but perhaps not their soul." Today "Have faith in Keegan the Messiah." Northern Echo "Businessmen 1, Fans 0." London Evening Standard "Andy Cole the poor old soul Gone nine games without a goal Does he care nowhe's a millionaire With half of Tyneside on the dole."

TONY Blair will take his campaign against extravagant salaries on to the football field tonight, writes Paul Routledge. The Labour leader will use a dinner at the Savoy Hotel, London, to remind top managers and players that the money for high wag es and high transfer fees comes from ordinary football supporters on the terraces and in the stands and to question the increasing commercialisation of the game.

On the basis that if it moves on a football field, someone, somewhere, ought to slap an advertising logo on it, the England team yesterday followed the path to Mammon by signing a £4m sponsorship deal.

FOOTBALL BY GUY HODGSON In a move that had echoes of their audacious purchase of Eric Cantona from Leeds two seasons ago, Manchester United yesterday bought Andy Cole from Newcastle United. The fee, estimated at £7m, is a British record.

FOOTBALL: Newcastle have lost more than a goal machine with the departu re of Andy Cole to Old Trafford. GuyHodgson reports

Alan Wardle listens to the supporters' reaction to Andy Cole's sudden e xit

No.95 Andy Cole: "He gets the ball and scores a goal - Andy, Andy Cole!" It started in the old Gallowgate corner and quickly spread around the rest of the ground. 35,000 people praising the new king.