SUPER League leaders Saints have dismissed reports that they are poised to sign Warrington's Welsh international stand-off Iestyn Harris as being 'absolutely without foundation.'

The speculation was fuelled by national media reports that Saints had offered £250,000 plus Tommy Martyn and Anthony Sullivan for Harris, who is the current holder of the 'Young Player of the Year' award .

Said chief executive David Howes: "Of course, we admire a star of Iestyn's undoubted quality - which club wouldn't - but the rumours, and they are no more than that, are mischievous, to say the least.

"Saints have invested heavily both in new signings such as Paul Newlove and Karle Hammond, plus ground improvements like the revamped superstore and dressing rooms and, following the Wembley success, the club is now at pay-back time.

"Furthermore to suggest that Saints are willing to release Martyn and Sullivan, who are valuable members of our squad ,is embarrassing both to the players and to the club, and I would also point out that Harris has contractual obligations to Warrington,"added Mr. Howes.

The Super League title countdown starts in earnest for Saints tomorrow night when they break new ground in travelling to the Boundary Park soccer enclosure, Oldham. The Bears will be anxious to avenge their heaviest Super League defeat of 66-18 which Saints inflicted on them at Knowsley Road in May, and also to improve on a dismal home record with their last success against Saints being a 20-18 win at Watersheddings in 1985. Under-12s will be admitted free, but a voucher must be obtained at Saints; the referee is Russell Smith, and the match will be televised on Sky from 7pm.

Saints Alliance team entertain Oldham tonight, Thursday, kick-off 7.30pm, and the Academy squad visit Wakefield on Sunday, kick-off 4pm.

Forthcoming events in the Phil Veivers testimonial: Sportsman's dinner at Saints, Wednesday, July 24. Speaker Stan Taylor. Mal Meninga autographed Test jersey for auction. Race night at Globe Hotel, Tuesday, July 30. Stall at St. Helens Show July 26/27/28.

More than 100 Saints and Wigan fans attended the Gus O'Donnell kidney machine fund-raising dinner at Saints on Friday. A three-month testimonial will start in September.

Saints will erase the McEwan-Lager jersey logo for the game in Paris on August10 to conform with French law, which bans alcohol advertising.

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