Boxing unclever with Amir Khan’t-drive and trouble in store with Afflecks Palace: Tuesday 8 January

AMIR KHAN might be a champion boxer but it seems he can’t drive within the law. He’s just received his second driving ban in less than three months for speeding at 140mph on the M62. He will serve this four month ban concurrently with a six month ban handed out in October. Commentators have questioned the logic of this saying that as well as a total of £2000 in fines he should serve both sentences in full, as an example to others.

THE AFFLECKS PALACE drama rumbles on. Property giants Bruntwood have, on this site, hit back at claims from the shopping centre that they’re dragging their feet over granting a new lease. Meanwhile Afflecks’ representatives say they have been backed into a corner and the stalemate means they have to consider whether to close the centre.

A PETITION has been launched to protest the withdrawing of an Arts Council grant for Queerupnorth. The Manchester-based gay arts festival is surprised by a decision which doesn’t reflect a dramatic rise in audience figures. They feel they still don’t know the real reason behind the decision. The petition is on www.queerupnorth.com

OLDHAM ATHLETIC have drawn the short straw in the FA Cup. After their heroic efforts in beating premiership Everton 1-0 away they have pulled Huddersfield out of the bag. A more suitable reward might have been United who play Reading or Spurs at home, and City who, if they beat West Ham in a replay, will take on Sheffield United away.