Palace's problems were made clear on Wednesday when Goldberg was forced to call in Buchler Philips

Palace's problems were made clear on Wednesday when Goldberg was forced to call in Buchler Philips, a company rescue firm, in an attempt to enable the club to solve its financial problems. Estimates had put Palace's debts at pounds 9m, but sources close to the club said yesterday the figure was pounds 20m. Up to pounds 5m of this debt is understood to be unpaid transfer fees owed to a variety of clubs and which were staggered in instalment payments. Noades himself said yesterday that he believed Palace were likely to move from administration to receivership soon, and he added that he could not rule out the possibility of a return to the club. The news makes the return of Ron Noades, the club's previous owner, more likely, especially if Mark Goldberg, Palace's chairman, cannot find substantial funds within the next three months to bail out the club.

CRYSTAL PALACE'S debts stand at pounds 20m, twice the level previously estimated, it was revealed last night. Their defence of that trophy begins against England at Lord's on 14 May.. Four years ago he was offered the coaching job, a post he declined. Undeterred, Sri Lanka's response was to go on and win the last World Cup in trail-blazing style. With another length of Britain charity walk for Leukaemia Research scheduled for the autumn, any coaching would have been intermittent at best.Ironically, it is not the first time Botham's name has been linked with Sri Lanka.

As nominations close today, Sumathipala obviously decided to play his trump card, though Botham's subsequent denial has made it look more like a joker.In any case Botham, a commentator with Sky, is a busy man. "I was approached nine months ago, but I've heard nothing since," he said. "I've certainly not signed any contract," a fact later confirmed by Botham's lawyer, Ninesh Desai. Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Desai said that "Ian was as confused as everyone else." Earlier in the day, the same radio station had Sumathipala claiming that Botham was all set to start. Politics tends to play a big part in sport overseas, and it now appears that Sumathipala's claim to having secured Botham's services, was little more than a wheeze to secure his re-election as president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.If such a fabrication sounds drastic it is, because the country's president, Mrs Chandika Kumarathunga, acting on allegations that Sumathipala has contacts in the world of bookmaking (not actually illegal in Sri Lanka), would like her favourite uncle, Clifford Ratwatte, instead to be installed. SRI LANKA'S bid to hang on to their title as one-day world champions, appeared to have received a timely boost after the president of the Cricket Board, Thilanga Sumathipala, announced that Ian Botham had signed a two- year contract as bowling coach.

Unfortunately, the coup de theatre was short-lived and Botham later denied any knowledge of the deal. Botham, who is in Ireland on a golfing trip, said he had first seen the news on Teletext yesterday morning. Symcox has decided his poor form in the recent one-day series in New Zealand means it is time to withdraw his name before the final 15 are announced.Symcox will be 39 by the time the tournament takes place and he feels he can no longer compete at the highest level.. If he does not, the home side's batting will be very thin.South Africa play a three-day game against a New Zealand A team in Lincoln beginning tomorrow as preparation for the second Test which starts at Lancaster Park next Thursday.Pat Symcox, the veteran South African off-spinner, yesterday announced his retirement from the international arena, despite being named in his country's provisional 19-strong World Cup squad.