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Deal safeguards British Grand Prix

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 08/12/2009
Formula One betting

The future of the British Grand Prix has been secured after Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone agreed a 17-year deal with Silverstone.

The race had been placed in doubt following the collapse of a potential agreement to move the race to Donington Park, but Silverstone Circuits Limited have confirmed that a new deal is now in place.

Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips confirmed: "We've always had five-year deals and never been able to get the investment we needed to redevelop.

"But 17 years gives us the ability to invest and move forward."

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In football, sportsbook favourites Manchester United will be without Nemanja Vidic for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Wolfsburg.

United's already threadbare defensive options have been further reduced following confirmation that the Serbia defender has not sufficiently recovered from the bout of flu which forced him to miss Saturday's 4-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United.

The Old Trafford club's list of injured defenders is a lengthy one with Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Fabio and Rafael Da Silva all currently in the Old Trafford treatment room.

Youngsters Magnus Eikrem, Cameron Stewart, Matt James and Oliver Norwood were all on the plane which left Manchester bound for Germany on Monday morning.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of signing former United and now Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the January transfer window.

Wenger has admitted that he is on the lookout for a new striker after losing Robin van Persie, Eduardo, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner to injury in recent weeks.

However, van Nistelrooy will not be heading to the Emirates Stadium despite recent reports claiming the Gunners were keen to sign the unsettled Netherlands striker.

Stoke City are remaining tight-lipped over reports that manager Tony Pulis and striker James Beattie were involved in an altercation following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Newspaper reports claimed that Pulis and Beattie came to blows in the dressing room at the Emirates Stadium after the Potters boss cancelled a planned day off for the players on Monday.

Stoke have refused to comment on the allegations but are believed to be holding an internal investigation into what went on at the weekend.

In rugby union, Harlequins head coach John Kingston has signed a new contract to keep him in charge of the Guinness Premiership club until the summer of 2012.

Kingston, who had previously played for the Quins, joined the coaching staff in 2001 and has since graduated to the top job.

He told the club's official website: "Eighteen months into my role as head coach, I am delighted to have committed myself for a further two-and-a-half years.

"Over this time, I feel we have developed a style that the players enjoy and which allows them to express themselves in a positive and successful manner."

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