Having previously completed his own scouting mission to the Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar, Mick McCarthy had already given us the heads-up on the little ground’s unique location, squeezed in, he said, between the Rock and the airport.

DARREN CLARKE’S new fitness regime is certain to come under the spotlight after strong wind and torrential rain forced the postponement of yesterday’s second round in the Volvo Masters.

Tony Blair was today flying back to Britain from the Swedish EU summit to mastermind the action plan to combat the worsening foot-and-mouth crisis.