Recently by David Prentice

THE memory of non-stop Everton dynamo, Alan Ball, will be commemorated on Sunday, August 10 in the most appropriate manner imaginable . . . a run around a Mersey football ground.

The playing fields at Walton Hall Park will be used for the Big Heart 5k Fun Run when Merseysiders are being asked to celebrate the life of the Goodison legend, and raise money for Heart UK, the Everton Charitable Trust and the Marina Dalglish Appeal.

ACCORDING to boffins with too much time on their hands, the saddest day of this year was officially calculated as January 22.

Something to do with dark mornings, Christmas debts and distant holidays.

Evertonians, however, beg to differ.

For a start, January 22 happens to be the birthday of their club's greatest ever player, which is surely a reason to celebrate.

IT was, apparently, the "best kept secret in Beatles history." Unless you're a long-time reader of this column.

Paul McCartney's preference for all things Blue has been discussed, debated and nailed firmly to a Goodison goalpost on this page years ago . . . the clincher being his presence at the 1968 FA Cup final in an overcoat and winkle-pickers.

He even referred to his Royal Blue leanings in a Radio Merseyside interview ahead of his Anfield appearance last month.

FRENCH defender Sebastien Bassong is hoping to secure a summer move to Everton.

The Metz defender turned down a move to Dinamo Bucharest last week and is trying to attract interest from Goodison.

The 22-year-old, under contract for a final season with Metz, claims that Everton, Hamburg and Wolfsburg have approached him but are yet to make an official offer for his services.

AS a player, Craig Short's interests famously extended no further than heavy metal music and the occasional round of golf.

But as a recently retired ex-pro, the former Blues favourite has now found a new passion.

As he showed with a 20-yard howitzer in the Mersey Masters mini-mini derby last weekend, Short can still find his way around a football field.

I'VE not been so shocked by a postponement since I stepped off a tube train into bright South Wimbledon sunshine - and discovered Plough Lane was waterlogged.

But the handy Press Association list which details these things confirmed it for me in black and white: "1 SOCCER Postponed. Saturday, 12th July 2008 FRIENDLY Bury v Everton Postponed (Postponed)."

Why?

STEVE ROUND'S agent is "confident" Everton will get their man.

But the Blues may have to be patient before the coach can begin his new role as assistant-manager to David Moyes.

Everton have yet to resolve the compensation wrangle with Newcastle after the coach's Tyneside contract expired yesterday.

EVERTON must resolve a compensation wrangle with Newcastle before Steve Round can be unveiled as the Blues' new assistant manager.

The former England coach only has one day remaining on his contract on Tyneside, but the Magpies are still demanding compensation from Everton.

The Blues return to pre-season training on Thursday and Moyes - who returns from a family holiday tomorrow - hopes the impasse can be resolved before then.

Everton were given permission to speak to the 37-year-old last week, but cannot progress the appointment until the compensation wrangle is sorted out.

EVERTON have been left sweating on the fate of their new stadium project - after the government asked for more time to consider the club's planning application.

The Blues had hoped to learn by Thursday whether the plan would be referred to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry - a delay which might deliver a potentially fatal blow to the scheme.

But the Government Office for the North West (GONW) have now requested an extension to consider whether to make that move or not.

EDDIE BISHOP turned back the clock on Saturday night.

A veteran of Tranmere's Cup giant-killing days - when top flight sides came to Prenton Park and were regularly demolished - he was the hero again as Rovers upset Liverpool in the final of the Mersey Masters.

Bishop struck twice at a packed Echo Arena - for a final flourish to a night of rich entertainment.