CHECKING on the progress of Burnley duo Carl Smith and Colin Carr-Lawton with Ethinikos this week, colleague Pete Oliver tracked down the Greek club's manager Howard Kendall.

And our man was intrigued to find that, given the position of Ethinikos at the bottom of the table without a win to their name, the name of the hotel in which the lads were staying was . . . the Poseidon!

Howard hasn't lost his sense of humour either, despite the results: "I suppose it's just as well it's not called the Titanic or it really would be a foregone conclusion," he laughed. Incidentally, Pete managed to contact the chief executive of Ethinikos on his mobile to ask about the Turf Moor two and was startled to be told:

"I know nothing, I cannot tell you any more, I have just resigned!"

That's what you call the news as it happens.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.