Pontiff to prove

Claudio Ranieri's recent audience with the Pope clearly did not overwhelm the Chelsea manager as much as his daily trips to work.

The Blues boss met with Pope John Paul II on Sunday, but the chirpy Italian saved his highest praise for someone rather different.

Although the head of the Roman Catholic church impressed Ranieri, he was more dazzled by one Gianfranco Zola.

"I am speechless," he said of the talents of his evergreen Italian midfielder.

"He is a great player and human being."

His meeting with the Pope elicited an altogether more prosaic response.

"This has never happened to me before, so maybe this is a good omen," Ranieri shrugged.

Still, Chelsea fans will be keen for any form of divine intervention as they bid for their first title since 1955.

So if the great Zola's knees do give out, expect Ranieri to be on the blower to his mate John Paul II.

Turkey stakes are lowered

A race between 12 potential Christmas turkeys at a London greyhound track has been called off after pressure from the RSPCA.

The birds were due to partake in the Gobble Cup stakes at Walthamstow Stadium in north-east London.

Punters were hoping to make a killing on the race, although the prize on offer for the winner was even greater, with the lucky bird escaping the Christmas dinner table.

But the race - which, bizarrely, was to be broadcast on television in France, Germany and Russia - was cancelled on the grounds of taste.

Philip Chandler, a director of the stadium, said: "We thought it was a bit of fun but we now realise it would have been in bad taste."

The race may still go ahead at an undisclosed location.

However, the pressure will be off as all 12 birds will be retired to a pet refuge at Peterborough after the match.

Go west, call me

West Country soccer strugglers Exeter City know they need goals to help lift them from the danger zone of Division Three.

But they have opted not to use scouts, or even the alleged psychic powers of co-chairman Uri Geller to unearth their latest gem.

Rather, the goalshy Grecians have asked prospective goalscorers to call them to help them fill the role.

"We hope the plan will help us deal with the wrong number in our goals scored column!" a spokesman definitely did not say.

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