Alpay came in for scathing criticism after his taunting of David Beckham in the heated Euro 2004 qualifier between Turkey and England in Istanbul.

The Sun leads the way with typical understatement. "Villa dump Alpay" screams its headline (under the banner "First the good news, folks") although the "bad news" is the player wants to remain in England.

But if the Daily Mirror is to be believed, Alpay is in fact on his way back to his native Turkey after agreeing a deal with Galatasaray.

BACK PAGE HEADLINES The Times: Alpay released as Villa bow to public demand The Guardian: Holmes lost to drugs suspect Daily Telegraph: Villa let 'sad' Alpay go The Independent: 'Blow the whistle' on cheats, says UK Sport The Sun: Villa dump Alpay Daily Express: Bye-bye Alpay Daily Mail: Sport is running scared Daily Star: Wake up Wayne Daily Mirror:Premier stars to be tested for THG

In the wake of Dwain Chambers' positive THG test, the controversy over the use of drugs in athletics - and sport in general - shows no signs of slowing down with a fresh round of revelations.

Both The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph single out US 1500m star Regina Jacobs - who pipped Britain's Kelly Holmes to gold at the world indoor championships - as the latest athlete to test positive for THG.

The Independent leads with the news that UK Sport has set up a Crimestoppers-style e-mail address and hotline for anyone with information concerning drugs in sport, while the Daily Mail broadens the picture with its belief that "Sport is running scared."

Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that Premiership footballers are next in line to be tested for the so-called designer steroid, suggesting that procedures to check for THG will be in place "within days".

Despite a recent revival on the pitch, it looks as though affairs are still far from rosy off it for Tottenham.

The Daily Express is one of several newspapers to report on the departure of Spurs finance director Paul Viner, speculating that the move signals some disastrous results, with a shortfall of some �20m suggested by the Guardian.

And finally, Britain's oldest-looking teenager Wayne Rooney will be hoping he gets some better birthday messages on his 18th than the ones plastered all over the red-tops.

"Wake up Wayne" says the Daily Star, quoting Everton boss David Moyes thus: "So far this season Wayne's form has not been too good and I would imagine every Evertonian you speak to would say the same thing."

Many happy returns, Wayne.