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Thursday 28 May 1998
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 News 5 
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GORAM EXPLAINS WORLD CUP WALKOUT
Scots Goalie Angry At Stories
About His Private Life
ANDY GORAM has explained his decision to quit international football on the eve of France 98 in an emotional letter to Scotland manager Craig Brown.
The goalkeeper has been shaken by newspaper claims that he had an affair with a member of the Celtic backroom staff and dumped her after giving her £900 for an abortion. The letter reads:
"It's plain to see that stories are being fabricated to upset me or our World Cup preparations. Myself, the manager Craig Brown and the players don't need this!! It's a very important time of people's lives. Players are ready to give everything for their country. I am now 'clubless' and need to organise my future. The last thing the Scotland squad need is controversy off the park. They have an objective, they don't want anything to divert their focus on what really matters - the World Cup.
Yes, you (the Press) have got to me! But I won't let it upset Craig's plans. If anything you have made it easier. It would be easier for me to just sit and collect my money for participating, as a player or substitute, from the World Cup and the players' pool. Money doesn't come into it. I've never played in a World Cup, but contentment is more important than controversy. From today, I've retired from international football. All I want to do is get away from all this hassle and get on with my life. That would not have been possible if I was playing in the World Cup because there is so much attention given to that. It was heartbreaking for me to leave Rangers and it is equally heartbreaking now to have to do this."
Stunned defender Colin Hendry said his teammate left Scotland's training camp near New York so suddenly that he didn't tell his colleagues, who only found out later when he didn't turn up for a team meeting. Manager Brown said he respected Goram's decision and would not be attempting to talk him round.
Celtic's Jonathon Gould has now been called up as a replacement and, although he will only be third choice behind Jim Leighton and Neil Sullivan, he is relishing the opportunity. He said: "I had booked a holiday in Minorca with my wife, which will have to be cancelled. This is too good an opportunity to pass up.
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LIVERPOOL TO LAND
£2M DUNDEE BY WEEKEND
LIVERPOOL expect to complete the signing of £2m Sean Dundee from German side Karlsruhe before the end of the week. The South African-born striker has agreed personal terms and had a medical on Merseyside yesterday, but Anfield officials claim it will take another couple of days to tie up all the loose ends.
Manager Roy 'Third In The Table' Evans wants Dundee to boost his firepower in the absence of long-term casualty Robbie Fowler. The England striker is not expected to be back in action until the New Year after he tore his medial and cruciate ligaments and his injury has left the club with no cover for strikers Michael Owen and Karlheinz Riedle.
Dundee, 25, proved a revelation when he burst onto the Bundesliga scene, earning a call-up to Berti Vogts' Germany squad only to have to withdraw with injury. This season he has been laid low by problems on and off the field, scoring only three goals as Karlsruhe were relegated.
CELTIC CHIEF
FIGHTS BACK
CELTIC managing director Fergus McCann has launched a scathing attack on Brian Dempsey, a former shareholder who is at the centre of moves to buy out his share in the Scottish champions. McCann, who has been under intense pressure since coach Wim Jansen walked out within 48 hours of delivering their first League title for a decade, spoke out in Celtic View, the club's official newspaper, warning his critics that they will not force him out.
''It is now clear that Brian Dempsey's plan to attack the management of Celtic, using a barrage of criticism and PR stunts is now underway and will continue for several months, he said. ''Interestingly Mr Dempsey - who has sold all his shares in Celtic at high prices resulting from the club's progress - is now lecturing me as to how I should act regarding my shareholding. Just for the record, I intend to make it possible for all the present shareholders to increase their stake and influence in Celtic's affairs. The Celtic management are dedicated to taking the club forward and upward to the next level both on and off the field.''
McCann went on to criticise fans' favourite Charlie Nicholas - "a former player and now Celtic management expert with a grudge'' - a newspaper editor and a Scottish TV commentator for siding with Dempsey.
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PALLISTER SET
FOR TRIP HOME
BRYAN ROBSON is moving closer in his attempts to bring his former Manchester United teammate Gary Pallister back to Middlesbrough. The Boro boss has tabled an offer, believed to be around £2m, for the former England centre half, who moved to Old Trafford from Teesside for a then-British record £2.3m just under nine years ago.
Pallister, who will be 33 at the end of next month, is just one season away from his United testimonial but Robson is ready with a contract including enough zeroes to make up for missing out on that particular little earner.
United chairman Martin Edwards warned that nothing is likely to happen until after the World Cup, though, in case £10.75m new signing Jaap Stam gets injured playing for Holland in France. "We are aware of their interest in Gary Pallister and they have made a bid for him," said Edwards. "But any possible move for Gary to Middlesbrough is on hold until after the finals. Obviously, we want to ensure Stam is free of injury before we complete his transfer on July 1.''
Robson, who needs a quality replacement for newly-retired skipper Nigel Pearson in the centre of defence, added: "Negotiations with United are ongoing and I'm hopeful."
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