Football

Gary Mabbutt has agreed a new two-year deal at Tottenham. Mabbutt's decision to extend his 14-year stay at White Hart Lane effectively means he will end his playing career with the side he joined from Bristol Rovers for pounds 105,000.

Scunthorpe have appointed Mick Buxton as their manager for the second time. Buxton, who was in charge from 1984-87, returned as caretaker manager two months ago and has since guided his side on an eight-match unbeaten run.

The Chinese champions, Shanghai Shenhua, are set to sign three top French players including Christian Perez, the 31-year-old Nimes midfielder who has won more than 20 caps for France and played more than 260 games in the French First Division.

Celtic expect to announce a 500 per cent rise in season-ticket sales over three years come the start of the new campaign in August. Fans have flocked back to Parkhead this season to see Celtic mount their strongest title challenge in eight years. Victory over Partick at Firhill tomorrow will take Celtic within one point of Rangers, who could then clinch the championship by beating Aberdeen at Ibrox on Sunday.

Lovers of trivia were left in a quandary after what would have been the first appearance of a father and son playing together in an international team failed to happen. Both the father, Arnor Gudjohnsen, 35, and his son Eidur-Smari, 17, played in Iceland's 3-0 friendly win over Estonia in Tallinn, but Eidur-Smari came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for his father.