From today's Ronnie:

NEWCASTLE United have given Nicos Dabizas until the end of the week to sign his new contract.

And while Bobby Robson has not said what action he will take if the Greek international does not put pen to paper, it is clear that he will be left out of the United side.

Robson toyed with leaving Dabizas on the sidelines for Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield and had Helder poised to take his place.

But in the end the former Olympiakos man got the nod - and gave away the last- minute corner from which Jamie Redknapp headed the winning goal.

Praise

However Robson told me today: "We have given Dabizas a deadline until this weekend to sign his contract.

"The club have offered him a contract and now it's up to him, not the club. The club is finished as far as his contract is concerned.

"The question is now what will he do, not what the club is going to do.

"The ball is in his court."

The hard-line stance by United certainly gave Dabizas plenty to think about as he slipped out of a side door at Anfield on Saturday night and on his way back home to Athens to link up with Greece for Wednesday's friendly match with Romania.

For the #1.5 million defender has been made aware that he could be left out not only for Saturday's game with Bradford City but also the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea at Wembley a week on Sunday.

However Robson was quick to praise the part Dabizas has played in United's revival under him.

For the United boss added: "Despite what has been happening with his contract, Dabizas has been terrific for us. He has been one of five or six of our players in the squad who have done very well.

"And I cannot say that he deserved to be left out of the side because of his contract situation.

"That would have been unfair to him and I am not an unfair person."

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

Answers

Saw this story on nufc.com - they almost nicked the headline from the Daily Toon which was up there last week when Dabs was linked with Inter - but instead of copying it correctly -"What's a Grecian Urn" they stuck with the How Much Does A Grecian Urn ? headline - doesn't scan correctly does it...
In the words of Roy Walker...it's good,but it's not right.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

I'm confused now. Does that mean that I've:
a) Stolen it from the Evening Chronicle
b) Stolen it from www.nufc.com
c) Stolen it from the Dail Toon
d) All of the above
e) Made it up as I've gone along and added quootes from YBR such as"Newcastle United Football Club"

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

Kegs - do you mean the story or the bad headline...

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

Story, My headlines quite boring.'Nic's ultimatum' yawn. Anyway Scratchy, how come I'm now second in your competition, I thought you were going to edit my guess so that it was spot on! Guess, I'll have to get it right this week. BTW what's the official attendance for St James'? I don't want to go over like I did last week.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

SJP - 36,610
Your second - marginally in the comp as ITK was a tad closer and got the bonus of 5.
He really has to get out more and stop being an anorak :o)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2000