themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Manchester United have four positions for Paul Pogba to play in

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested Paul Pogba will never have a fixed role in the Manchester United side due to his versatility .
Solskjaer used Pogba on the left of a midfield three when he took over as caretaker in December 2018 and the Frenchman embarked on a phenomenal run of nine goals in 12 games .
However , Solskjaer moved Pogba to a deeper role in a 4-2-3-1 at the start of last season and Pogba returned to the left side of a midfield axis after he recovered from ankle surgery in June behind Bruno Fernandes .
Jose Mourinho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool and Chelsea in October 2016 and Solskjaer used Pogba on the left of a midfield diamond with mixed results against RB Leipzig and Arsenal this season .
Pogba started in all three of France 's internationals this month and played in a midfield three in the Nations League win over Portugal and in a two in the midweek victory against Sweden .
`` There ’ s always discussions about players who can play in different positions because they have the quality to do so many things and they can play in different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The same goes with Scott : what ’ s his best position ?
Scotland play him as a centre-back , I play him as one of two defensive midfielders .
`` Bruno can play lots of positions , Marcus : is he best on the left or through the middle ?
Same with Anthony .
Paul is the same : he can do the role and he has the qualities to do many things , it ’ s about the balance of the team , that ’ s on the XI you pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key .
`` Sometimes it ’ s an 8 , sometimes a 10 , sometimes in off the left in a diamond , sometimes one of the two , he can do everything .
And now , the fitter he gets the more he can do . ''
France coach Didier Deschamps said Pogba 'is in a situation with his club where he can not be happy ' and there is a growing sense this could be the Frenchman 's last season with United .
Pogba admitted retreating to the France set-up was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having last month reiterated his desire to join Real Madrid , but Solskjaer downplayed his and Deschamps 's comments .
`` We always get questions and we try to answer as well as we can , '' Solskjaer said .
`` I think the press sometimes makes more of it and people maybe at home not having the whole interview make more of it .
United get their Premier League campaign back underway on Saturday when they welcome strugglers West Brom to Old Trafford .
The under-pressure Reds came from behind to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bruno Fernandes ' double and Edinson Cavani 's first goal for United .
The players are returning from the two-week international break , and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to have as few injury and fitness concerns as possible among the stars coming back from international duty .
We 'll be bringing you all the latest updates and build-up to the game , and you can have it all delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter by submitting your email address in the sign-up box above , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it only takes a few seconds .
`` We ’ re all experienced enough to try to avoid big , massive headlines .
I spoke to Paul today about it .
Of course he ’ s not been happy when he ’ s not playing , and not playing really well .
He ’ s not been happy with his performances .
`` He plays in the same position for France as he does for us , so that ’ s not a different scenario .
It ’ s about getting momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , he felt really strong towards the end against Portugal and towards the end of the game with Sweden , which is natural because he had COVID and he needed time .
`` That ’ s the same with all of our players : they look stronger and fitter and he ’ s the same .
With the comments ...
I remember myself when I played for Norway and saw my mates that I had grown up with , of course it ’ s nice to meet them .
Social life now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re happy to see them . ''

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested Paul Pogba will never have a fixed role in the Manchester United side due to his versatility.
Solskjaer used Pogba on the left of a midfield three when he took over as caretaker in December 2018 and the Frenchman embarked on a phenomenal run of nine goals in 12 games.
However, Solskjaer moved Pogba to a deeper role in a 4-2-3-1 at the start of last season and Pogba returned to the left side of a midfield axis after he recovered from ankle surgery in June behind Bruno Fernandes.
Jose Mourinho unsuccessfully trialled Pogba as a No.10 against Liverpool and Chelsea in October 2016 and Solskjaer used Pogba on the left of a midfield diamond with mixed results against RB Leipzig and Arsenal this season.
Pogba started in all three of France's internationals this month and played in a midfield three in the Nations League win over Portugal and in a two in the midweek victory against Sweden.
"There’s always discussions about players who can play in different positions because they have the quality to do so many things and they can play in different positions," Solskjaer explained. "The same goes with Scott: what’s his best position? Scotland play him as a centre-back, I play him as one of two defensive midfielders.
"Bruno can play lots of positions, Marcus: is he best on the left or through the middle? Same with Anthony. Paul is the same: he can do the role and he has the qualities to do many things, it’s about the balance of the team, that’s on the XI you pick that day; that’s the key.
"Sometimes it’s an 8, sometimes a 10, sometimes in off the left in a diamond, sometimes one of the two, he can do everything. And now, the fitter he gets the more he can do."
France coach Didier Deschamps said Pogba 'is in a situation with his club where he cannot be happy' and there is a growing sense this could be the Frenchman's last season with United.
Pogba admitted retreating to the France set-up was 'like a breath of fresh air', having last month reiterated his desire to join Real Madrid, but Solskjaer downplayed his and Deschamps's comments.
"We always get questions and we try to answer as well as we can," Solskjaer said. "I think the press sometimes makes more of it and people maybe at home not having the whole interview make more of it.
"We’re all experienced enough to try to avoid big, massive headlines. I spoke to Paul today about it. Of course he’s not been happy when he’s not playing, and not playing really well. He’s not been happy with his performances.
"He plays in the same position for France as he does for us, so that’s not a different scenario. It’s about getting momentum and rhythm and, as I said earlier, he felt really strong towards the end against Portugal and towards the end of the game with Sweden, which is natural because he had COVID and he needed time.
"That’s the same with all of our players: they look stronger and fitter and he’s the same. With the comments... I remember myself when I played for Norway and saw my mates that I had grown up with, of course it’s nice to meet them. Social life now is not the same, so you’re happy to see them."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Pep Guardiola asked if he will stay at Man City beyond 2023

Pep Guardiola insists his Manchester City future beyond 2023 will depend on the success he achieves in the next two and a half years - but crucially did not rule out any further contract extensions .
The manager has just committed his future to City for another two and a half years , with the ink on his new contract barely dry before talk has moved to what will happen when this deal expires .
Before signing the new contract , Guardiola had always said he must earn any extension on the field .
Now into his fifth season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer than any of his previous managerial jobs , and he will go to seven years in charge if he sees out the deal .
But as soon as he was asked what could happen after the new contract , Guardiola did not rule it out and tried to keep attention on the current season .
He said : `` I don ’ t know , when I arrived here I didn ’ t expect to be seven years .
I don ’ t know what is going to happen .
It depends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If we have success and we are happy , why not ?
If we don ’ t have success , we will be less happy and I think we are going to change .
It ’ s simple .
`` I ’ m here and will continue to try to have incredible success , last year we won two titles , we won eight titles in three seasons and we want to do it again but no more than this .
`` For sure it ’ s going to happen [ keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m enjoying this job .
What happens in two years I can not answer you .
I didn ’ t know what would happen 10 , 15 days ago . ''
Guardiola also revealed more aspects of how his contract talks progressed , and the key role played by chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak .
He said : `` Our conversation this week with the club and especially Khaldoon , we clarified the deal all together , the targets and we decide to continue .
Nobody can say what will happen in two years because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good we are doing .
`` Maybe we can not win and we are performing well and ok it ’ s not a problem but maybe we are not performing well and in sports it can happen , drop a little bit our performance and lack of titles and after the situation will be completely the opposite .
In football , two , three months is a long time , imagine two years . ''
Guardiola also said there is no pressure from above him to return a certain amount of silverware , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the best of his ability and the results will follow .
`` The same as what I am as a person and as a manager since 12 years ago , like I start , '' he said of Al-Mubarak 's expectations .
`` He ’ s never asked me anything , when I arrive here Khaldoon never asked me anything in terms of titles and what we have to do - just be yourself , and do what you have done since the academy with Barcelona , and after Barcelona [ first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
`` He said the same - continue what you started , we believe we can do it again and this was the reason why .
He knows and understands completely the business - that as much as you can do maybe it doesn ’ t work .
He knows perfectly how difficult everything is in this world , especially right now for all the clubs and we ’ re not an exception .
”

Pep Guardiola insists his Manchester City future beyond 2023 will depend on the success he achieves in the next two and a half years - but crucially did not rule out any further contract extensions.
The manager has just committed his future to City for another two and a half years, with the ink on his new contract barely dry before talk has moved to what will happen when this deal expires.
Before signing the new contract, Guardiola had always said he must earn any extension on the field. Now into his fifth season, he is already at the club for longer than any of his previous managerial jobs, and he will go to seven years in charge if he sees out the deal.
But as soon as he was asked what could happen after the new contract, Guardiola did not rule it out and tried to keep attention on the current season.
He said: "I don’t know, when I arrived here I didn’t expect to be seven years. I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends on the results to be honest.
"If we have success and we are happy, why not? If we don’t have success, we will be less happy and I think we are going to change. It’s simple.
"I’m here and will continue to try to have incredible success, last year we won two titles, we won eight titles in three seasons and we want to do it again but no more than this.
"For sure it’s going to happen [keeping the motivation], still I’m enjoying this job. What happens in two years I cannot answer you. I didn’t know what would happen 10, 15 days ago."
Guardiola also revealed more aspects of how his contract talks progressed, and the key role played by chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.
He said: "Our conversation this week with the club and especially Khaldoon, we clarified the deal all together, the targets and we decide to continue. Nobody can say what will happen in two years because it depends on the results and how good we are doing.
"Maybe we cannot win and we are performing well and ok it’s not a problem but maybe we are not performing well and in sports it can happen, drop a little bit our performance and lack of titles and after the situation will be completely the opposite. In football, two, three months is a long time, imagine two years."
Guardiola also said there is no pressure from above him to return a certain amount of silverware, saying he is trusted to simply manage to the best of his ability and the results will follow.
"The same as what I am as a person and as a manager since 12 years ago, like I start," he said of Al-Mubarak's expectations.
"He’s never asked me anything, when I arrive here Khaldoon never asked me anything in terms of titles and what we have to do - just be yourself, and do what you have done since the academy with Barcelona, and after Barcelona [first team] then Bayern Munich and now here.
"He said the same - continue what you started, we believe we can do it again and this was the reason why. He knows and understands completely the business - that as much as you can do maybe it doesn’t work. He knows perfectly how difficult everything is in this world, especially right now for all the clubs and we’re not an exception.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Who Wants to be a Millionaire winner from Wigan (and what he did with the cash)

It was 19 years ago that glitter first came falling from ceiling of the now legendary Who Wants to be a Millionaire ?
studio .
But since then only six people have managed to scoop the top prize .
It had been 14 years since someone had taken home TV 's biggest cheque until teacher Donald Fear won the million back in September without anyone correctly answering the show ’ s final question .
It was also the first time someone had succesfully answered the show 's final question under new host , former Top Gear frontman Jeremy Clarkson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debut in 1998 , it went on to become a huge hit across the globe .
It is now produced in 83 languages , and inspired Danny Boyle ’ s Oscar-winning 2008 movie , Slumdog Millionaire , as well as ITV ’ s hit drama Quiz - about a cheating contesant .
Now , a new ITV series returns to the handful of contestants who managed to correctly answer of 15 questions , to find out what happened to them after the cameras stopped rolling reports the Mirror .
Software developer Pat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s most successful quiz champions and in 2018 was ranked the number one quizzer in the world .
Proving his prowess , he was the only finalist ever to reach the million-pound question with two of his lifelines left .
Following his Millionaire win in April 2004 , he went part time to devote himself to quizzing , and was crowned Mastermind champion a year later before winning BBC Radio 4 ’ s Brain of Britain , and landing a part on Eggheads , a year after that .
Unlike the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists he didn ’ t go on the show for the huge cash prize .
He says : “ It ’ s a high profile programme and an exhilarating challenge to try to win it .
It was only afterwards when it registered that I ’ d won the money too .
Obviously there was satisfaction in that too , but it wasn ’ t the reason I did it.
” Pat who spent weeks trying to enter the show , thought he ’ d missed out on a chance after two contestants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then he got the answer wrong for the third ‘ fastest finger ’ round .
“ But then Chris said nobody had got it right , so we were back in play .
They didn ’ t show that on TV , but by the time I was in the seat I was already feeling extremely tense .
On his £1m question , Pat used his 50:50 and then his phone-a-friend before correctly guessing the Arlington Million was not one of the American Triple Crown horse races .
Following his win , little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart from him moving to working part time , one week on and one week off .
Whereas many millionaires might spend their money on foreign holidays or luxury purchases , Pat indulges in his love of quizzing , spending four to five hours a day honing his general knowledge skills .
He says : “ Everyone always wants to know about the yacht or the horses , but there are none .
We ’ re still living in the same house , and only ever changed cars when we needed to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steering wheel.
” But winning the million has given him unexpected fame .
“ I once got recognised while I was filling up a car at a petrol station in Oxfordshire .
`` And in London , a load of binmen on the other side of the street started shouting , ‘ it ’ s him off the telly !
’ .
But otherwise nothing much has changed.
” A distant cousin of Camilla Parker-Bowles , Judith became the first ever winner in November 2000 and the only woman to have ever pocketed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her correctly guess that Henry II was the husband of Eleanor of Aquitane .
The win couldn ’ t have come sooner for twice-divorced Judith , a newly-qualified garden designer who was trying to set up her own business and struggling to make ends meet .
After reaching £16,000 before her episode ran out of time , the mother-of-three treated herself to a cashmere sweater from Harrods .
After winning the prize a week later , teetotal Judith , who attended Alcoholic Anonymous after her 1980 divorce from her first husband , celebrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-day money management course .
Cautious of wasting her win , she bought a relatively modest £20,000 Audi , holidayed in India and Asia and made a donation to a tiger conservation charity .
She also swapped her Fulham townhouse for a small London flat , and bought a property in Albi , southwest France , before landing a regular role on BBC game show Eggheads in 2003 .
Judith , now 78 , remembers how she concocted a plan to get on the show by calling 250 times .
She says : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I basically stayed on the telephone until they answered , which took about a day and a half .
I calculated , if each call cost 75p , I ’ d get all that back if I got into the chair - forgetting about the fastest finger round .
“ At one point BT rang me up and said , ‘ do you realise your telephone ’ s being used rather a lot ?
’ “ I was pretty skint after my divorce and I was starting to get a little worried , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did it .
I think if I didn ’ t win the money I ’ d be in the workhouse frankly !
” Judith believes her luck continued when she ’ d finally made it to the contestant ’ s chair , especially when it came to the final question .
She says : “ Thankfully I didn ’ t get any sports , science or pop music questions .
I wouldn ’ t have been any good on those .
“ The £1million question was extraordinary .
I ’ d been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove back I stopped in a place called Fontevraud , where there was this enormous abbey with four tombs .
`` One was Eleanor and the other was her husband , Henry II - the answer .
If I hadn ’ t stopped there I wouldn ’ t have known , and would probably have forfeited the question and taken the money.
” We 'd like to know what you think should happen next .
Would you like to see the lockdown extended or should all restrictions be lifted ?
Have your say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interactive content ' or follow this link if you ca n't see it on your device .
Judith , who has five grandchildren , adds : “ Winning the money gave me a huge sense of relief , a feeling of safety .
I didn ’ t see it as something to go out and spend , but to invest and use to fund my life .
“ I did eventually buy a house in France , where I lived for six months of the year , but I made a huge loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , I think the amount I have today is about the same as when I won it .
It means I have something to leave my family . ''
Desperate to be able to leave his job as a physics teacher , David made it his mission to get on the programme and win enough to retire .
The Mensa Superbrain and past Mastermind winner devoted £1,000 to phoning the show after calculating how many times he would need to call to get on .
Welshman David , from Cheadle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fastest Finger selection round , having managed to get on once but being beaten to the contestant ’ s chair .
His scheme worked and in April 2001 he became the show ’ s second winner , pocketing £1m after correctly identifying Quercus Robber as the Latin name for a type of tree .
David , now 73 , who was head of science at Denstone College private school recalls : “ At first I didn ’ t consider it seriously as the chances were incredibly difficult .
`` But if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a parents ’ evening that went on too long , instead of kicking the cat or downing half a bottle of whiskey , I ’ d call the show .
It was almost a sort of therapy .
“ I ’ d worked out that , if I called the show 2,000 times over two years , my chances of getting on were about 94 % .
It wasn ’ t a gamble , it was just a risky investment .
“ I was no different from any other teacher at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on but no more than that .
There was the occasional month where there ’ d been an unexpected bill and you were watching the pounds .
I was a free dinner kid as a child , I knew what it was like to go without.
” But after picking up the top prize , the thrifty dad-of-two went back to work , swapped his battered VW Passat with a newer VW Passat , and only moved 200 yards down the road to a slightly bigger house with wife Vivian .
He later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyrenees in France , and built a second home .
He says : “ My first purchases were a couple of laptops for my son and daughter .
I stayed working at the school for two more years , I didn ’ t want to drop my students before their exams .
The money allowed my wife and me to retire early , and the house in France we ’ d never have dreamed of having .
We ’ ve also have experiences and holidays which are more than we ’ d ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Greenland.
” David also says he invested rather and squandered his jackpot .
“ My guess if you top the whole lot up is that it ’ s not that different to what is was .
It ’ s a life-changing amount of money but an amount you can ’ t become a playboy on , ” he says .
Quizzing enthusiast Ingram was broke from his divorce and living in a one-bed flat in Bath , Wilts , when he became the fifth winner in September 2006 .
After scooping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a civil servant in Chippenham , spread £250,000 among his five children and bought a VW Touran .
A year later , he splashed out on a five-bed , £250,000 property with its own island in Miramont-de-Guyenne , near Bordeaux in France .
Ingram , 76 , now married to his second wife , Pat , 57 , spends his days birdwatching , reading books and “ pottering about ” .
He says “ life was pretty quiet ” before he scooped the jackpot .
“ It wasn ’ t too bad but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I wasn ’ t particularly struggling - a civil servant ’ s life may be full but it ’ s fairly secure .
I had a steady overdraft which wasn ’ t growing enormously .
I was getting by .
“ Where I really felt the pinch was cars .
I lost my first car , which I inherited from my dad , when my crazy neighbour set fire to it .
`` After that it was difficult to get a car I wasn ’ t afraid would fall apart under me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nice solid car that would still be going when I got from A to B.
” Ingram , who had reached the final of Mastermind and appeared on Fifteen to One , had used up all his lifelines when he reached the £1m question , but correctly guessed that the boxer famous for striking the gong at the start of J Arthur Rank films is Bombardier Billy Wells .
He remembers that the first thing he bought was a green banker ’ s lamp .
He says : “ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re quite peaceful .
So I went to a posh shop in Bath and got an antique one for £250 .
To spent that on a lamp seemed quite outlandish to me .
“ I went back to work just to clear my desk and that was it.
” Ingram says he also lent £25,000 to a friend who asked for a loan because he couldn ’ t pay his mortgage , but never paid him back .
“ He stopped answering his phone .
I later found out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t returned the money.
” He admits “ quite a bit ’ s gone , but I ’ m not hard up .
“ Strictly speaking I ’ m living off my civil service pension , but I ’ ve got the capital as a cushion .
I ’ m now living in a watermill by a river , and my biggest expenditure is on camera equipment so I can photograph the birds .
Thanks to the show I ’ ve been able to live a life I never dreamed of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be A Millionaire : The Million Pound Question starts on ITV on November 22 , 8pm .

newsdesk@men-news.co.uk (Matt Roper, Chris Slater)

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It was 19 years ago that glitter first came falling from ceiling of the now legendary Who Wants to be a Millionaire? studio.
But since then only six people have managed to scoop the top prize.
It had been 14 years since someone had taken home TV's biggest cheque until teacher Donald Fear won the million back in September without anyone correctly answering the show’s final question.
It was also the first time someone had succesfully answered the show's final question under new host, former Top Gear frontman Jeremy Clarkson.
Previously hosted by Chris Tarrant from its debut in 1998, it went on to become a huge hit across the globe.
It is now produced in 83 languages, and inspired Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning 2008 movie, Slumdog Millionaire, as well as ITV’s hit drama Quiz - about a cheating contesant.
Now, a new ITV series returns to the handful of contestants who managed to correctly answer of 15 questions, to find out what happened to them after the cameras stopped rolling reports the Mirror.
Pat Gibson
(Image: ITV)
Software developer Pat, from Wigan, is one of the world’s most successful quiz champions and in 2018 was ranked the number one quizzer in the world.
Proving his prowess, he was the only finalist ever to reach the million-pound question with two of his lifelines left.
Following his Millionaire win in April 2004, he went part time to devote himself to quizzing, and was crowned Mastermind champion a year later before winning BBC Radio 4’s Brain of Britain, and landing a part on Eggheads, a year after that.
Unlike the other winners, Dad-of-two Pat, 59 insists he didn’t go on the show for the huge cash prize.
He says: “It’s a high profile programme and an exhilarating challenge to try to win it. It was only afterwards when it registered that I’d won the money too. Obviously there was satisfaction in that too, but it wasn’t the reason I did it.”
(Image: ITV)
Pat who spent weeks trying to enter the show, thought he’d missed out on a chance after two contestants came and went on his episode and then he got the answer wrong for the third ‘fastest finger’ round.
“But then Chris said nobody had got it right, so we were back in play. They didn’t show that on TV, but by the time I was in the seat I was already feeling extremely tense.
On his £1m question, Pat used his 50:50 and then his phone-a-friend before correctly guessing the Arlington Million was not one of the American Triple Crown horse races.
Following his win, little changed in Pat’s life, apart from him moving to working part time, one week on and one week off.
(Image: ITV)
Whereas many millionaires might spend their money on foreign holidays or luxury purchases, Pat indulges in his love of quizzing, spending four to five hours a day honing his general knowledge skills.
He says: “Everyone always wants to know about the yacht or the horses, but there are none. We’re still living in the same house, and only ever changed cars when we needed to, once when a thief sheered off the steering wheel.”
But winning the million has given him unexpected fame. “I once got recognised while I was filling up a car at a petrol station in Oxfordshire.
"And in London, a load of binmen on the other side of the street started shouting, ‘it’s him off the telly!’. But otherwise nothing much has changed.”
Judith Keppel
(Image: ITV)
A distant cousin of Camilla Parker-Bowles, Judith became the first ever winner in November 2000 and the only woman to have ever pocketed the prize.
The £1million question saw her correctly guess that Henry II was the husband of Eleanor of Aquitane.
The win couldn’t have come sooner for twice-divorced Judith, a newly-qualified garden designer who was trying to set up her own business and struggling to make ends meet.
After reaching £16,000 before her episode ran out of time, the mother-of-three treated herself to a cashmere sweater from Harrods.
After winning the prize a week later, teetotal Judith, who attended Alcoholic Anonymous after her 1980 divorce from her first husband, celebrated with a cola and enrolled on a four-day money management course.
Cautious of wasting her win, she bought a relatively modest £20,000 Audi, holidayed in India and Asia and made a donation to a tiger conservation charity.
(Image: Mirrorpix)
She also swapped her Fulham townhouse for a small London flat, and bought a property in Albi, southwest France, before landing a regular role on BBC game show Eggheads in 2003.
Judith, now 78, remembers how she concocted a plan to get on the show by calling 250 times.
She says: “I targeted one episode, and I basically stayed on the telephone until they answered, which took about a day and a half. I calculated, if each call cost 75p, I’d get all that back if I got into the chair - forgetting about the fastest finger round.
“At one point BT rang me up and said, ‘do you realise your telephone’s being used rather a lot?’
“I was pretty skint after my divorce and I was starting to get a little worried, that’s one of the reasons I did it. I think if I didn’t win the money I’d be in the workhouse frankly!”
Judith believes her luck continued when she’d finally made it to the contestant’s chair, especially when it came to the final question.
(Image: Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser)
She says: “Thankfully I didn’t get any sports, science or pop music questions. I wouldn’t have been any good on those.
“The £1million question was extraordinary. I’d been in France that summer and as I drove back I stopped in a place called Fontevraud, where there was this enormous abbey with four tombs.
"One was Eleanor and the other was her husband, Henry II - the answer. If I hadn’t stopped there I wouldn’t have known, and would probably have forfeited the question and taken the money.”
We'd like to know what you think should happen next. Would you like to see the lockdown extended or should all restrictions be lifted? Have your say in our survey below.
Click 'display interactive content' or follow this link if you can't see it on your device.
Judith, who has five grandchildren, adds: “Winning the money gave me a huge sense of relief, a feeling of safety. I didn’t see it as something to go out and spend, but to invest and use to fund my life.
“I did eventually buy a house in France, where I lived for six months of the year, but I made a huge loss when I sold it five years ago. Still, I think the amount I have today is about the same as when I won it. It means I have something to leave my family."
David Edwards
(Image: ITV)
Desperate to be able to leave his job as a physics teacher, David made it his mission to get on the programme and win enough to retire.
The Mensa Superbrain and past Mastermind winner devoted £1,000 to phoning the show after calculating how many times he would need to call to get on.
Welshman David, from Cheadle, Staffs, also practised finger co-ordination for the Fastest Finger selection round, having managed to get on once but being beaten to the contestant’s chair.
His scheme worked and in April 2001 he became the show’s second winner, pocketing £1m after correctly identifying Quercus Robber as the Latin name for a type of tree.
David, now 73, who was head of science at Denstone College private school recalls: “At first I didn’t consider it seriously as the chances were incredibly difficult.
"But if I had a bad day a work, or a parents’ evening that went on too long, instead of kicking the cat or downing half a bottle of whiskey, I’d call the show. It was almost a sort of therapy.
“I’d worked out that, if I called the show 2,000 times over two years, my chances of getting on were about 94%. It wasn’t a gamble, it was just a risky investment.
“I was no different from any other teacher at that time, we had enough to live on but no more than that. There was the occasional month where there’d been an unexpected bill and you were watching the pounds. I was a free dinner kid as a child, I knew what it was like to go without.”
But after picking up the top prize, the thrifty dad-of-two went back to work, swapped his battered VW Passat with a newer VW Passat, and only moved 200 yards down the road to a slightly bigger house with wife Vivian.
He later bought land in Languedoc, near the Pyrenees in France, and built a second home.
He says: “My first purchases were a couple of laptops for my son and daughter. I stayed working at the school for two more years, I didn’t want to drop my students before their exams.
The money allowed my wife and me to retire early, and the house in France we’d never have dreamed of having. We’ve also have experiences and holidays which are more than we’d ever dreamed of, such as the Antarctic and Greenland.”
David also says he invested rather and squandered his jackpot.
“My guess if you top the whole lot up is that it’s not that different to what is was. It’s a life-changing amount of money but an amount you can’t become a playboy on,” he says.
Ingram Wilcox
(Image: ITV)
Quizzing enthusiast Ingram was broke from his divorce and living in a one-bed flat in Bath, Wilts, when he became the fifth winner in September 2006.
After scooping the prize he quit his £20,000-a-year job as a civil servant in Chippenham, spread £250,000 among his five children and bought a VW Touran.
A year later, he splashed out on a five-bed, £250,000 property with its own island in Miramont-de-Guyenne, near Bordeaux in France.
Ingram, 76, now married to his second wife, Pat, 57, spends his days birdwatching, reading books and “pottering about”.
He says “life was pretty quiet” before he scooped the jackpot.
“It wasn’t too bad but I could have done with a change. I wasn’t particularly struggling - a civil servant’s life may be full but it’s fairly secure. I had a steady overdraft which wasn’t growing enormously. I was getting by.
“Where I really felt the pinch was cars. I lost my first car, which I inherited from my dad, when my crazy neighbour set fire to it.
"After that it was difficult to get a car I wasn’t afraid would fall apart under me. My only dream was to have a nice solid car that would still be going when I got from A to B.”
Ingram, who had reached the final of Mastermind and appeared on Fifteen to One, had used up all his lifelines when he reached the £1m question, but correctly guessed that the boxer famous for striking the gong at the start of J Arthur Rank films is Bombardier Billy Wells.
He remembers that the first thing he bought was a green banker’s lamp.
He says: “I don’t know what it is about them, they’re quite peaceful. So I went to a posh shop in Bath and got an antique one for £250. To spent that on a lamp seemed quite outlandish to me.
“I went back to work just to clear my desk and that was it.”
Ingram says he also lent £25,000 to a friend who asked for a loan because he couldn’t pay his mortgage, but never paid him back. “He stopped answering his phone. I later found out that he had sold his house but hadn’t returned the money.”
He admits “quite a bit’s gone, but I’m not hard up.
“Strictly speaking I’m living off my civil service pension, but I’ve got the capital as a cushion. I’m now living in a watermill by a river, and my biggest expenditure is on camera equipment so I can photograph the birds. Thanks to the show I’ve been able to live a life I never dreamed of getting to live.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Manchester United news and transfers RECAP

Manchester United have a number of injury concerns to sweat on , as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces the media later @ @ @ @ @ 's game against West Brom .
United host the Baggies at Old Trafford at 8pm @ @ @ @ @ their first game back after the international break .
Edinson Cavani and Harry Maguire were @ @ @ @ @ 's Carrington training ground on Thursday .
Both are doubts for the West Brom game @ @ @ @ @ who has a back issue .
Luke Shaw is sidelined with a hamstring injury , @ @ @ @ @ Telles and Mason Greenwood all trained on Thursday and could be set to feature against @ @ @ @ @ United are still hunting for their first home win of the new Premier League season @ @ @ @ @ Palace , Tottenham and Arsenal at Old Trafford so far this season .
Follow our @ @ @ @ @ all the latest news .

Manchester United have a number of injury concerns to sweat on, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces the media later today ahead of tomorrow night's game against West Brom.
United host the Baggies at Old Trafford at 8pm on Saturday night, in their first game back after the international break.
Edinson Cavani and Harry Maguire were among those absent from United's Carrington training ground on Thursday. Both are doubts for the West Brom game, as is Victor Lindelof who has a back issue. Luke Shaw is sidelined with a hamstring injury, but Marcus Rashford, Alex Telles and Mason Greenwood all trained on Thursday and could be set to feature against Slaven Bilic's side.
United are still hunting for their first home win of the new Premier League season, after defeats to Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Arsenal at Old Trafford so far this season.
Follow our United live blog below for all the latest news.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--When is Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2020?

It 's nearly time for Black Friday - which officially marks the start of Christmas shopping around the world .
Retailers will take the opportunity to boost sales before the end of the year by slashing the prices of their products .
But like most events this year , it 'll look a lot different as shops remain closed due to the coronavirus lockdown .
Only essential stores such as supermarkets are open in England , however click-and-collect services can resume , as can deliveries .
There will be tough competition among online retailers , so there could be some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Friday this year comes around on Friday , November 27 .
However this will be the first year where the event will be entirely online , aside from supermarket deals .
Therefore there may not be too much difference between the two dates .
Black Friday started out in America in the 1950s , and it comes the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday .
Cyber Monday later became a tradition in the US when a spike was noticed in online sales the following Monday .
In the UK , traditionally , Boxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of the year , however when American-owned retailer Amazon began to hold promotions , other UK retailers adopted the event .
Deals can always be found at the huge online giants such as Amazon , who place deals on a range of categories , including tech , TVs , and appliances .
John Lewis and Currys PC World are also seen as Black Friday hotspots , along with Argos .

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It's nearly time for Black Friday - which officially marks the start of Christmas shopping around the world.
Retailers will take the opportunity to boost sales before the end of the year by slashing the prices of their products.
But like most events this year, it'll look a lot different as shops remain closed due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Only essential stores such as supermarkets are open in England, however click-and-collect services can resume, as can deliveries.
There will be tough competition among online retailers, so there could be some of the biggest discounts ever seen.
Black Friday this year comes around on Friday, November 27.
And Cyber Monday falls on Monday, November 30.
(Image: PA)
However this will be the first year where the event will be entirely online, aside from supermarket deals.
Therefore there may not be too much difference between the two dates.
Black Friday started out in America in the 1950s, and it comes the Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday. Cyber Monday later became a tradition in the US when a spike was noticed in online sales the following Monday.
In the UK, traditionally, Boxing Day had been considered the biggest shopping day of the year, however when American-owned retailer Amazon began to hold promotions, other UK retailers adopted the event.
Deals can always be found at the huge online giants such as Amazon, who place deals on a range of categories, including tech, TVs, and appliances.
John Lewis and Currys PC World are also seen as Black Friday hotspots, along with Argos.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Taxi driver's licence suspended following bust-up outside Covid testing site

A taxi driver has had his operator licence suspended after a video emerged of a bust-up with a filmmaker outside a coronavirus testing centre .
Charlie Veitch , whose YouTube videos are watched by nearly 100,000 subscribers across the world , captured footage of the confrontation at the facility outside Salford Civic Centre , in Swinton , on Thursday morning ( November 19 ) .
The video shows the pair engaged in an argument before the driver appears to lash out at Mr Veitch several times .
Salford council confirmed it had suspended the driver 's taxi licence 'with immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he was using the test centre as a backdrop for a video , in which he was discussing Joe Biden and Donald Trump , when he was confronted by the driver .
As a taxi leaves the mobile facility , it can be seen being driven towards Mr Veitch .
The vehicle then pulls up next to him .
Mr Veitch can be heard saying : `` Hi , how can I help you ? ''
The taxi driver asks him whether is filming , before repeatedly asking him to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video shows the driver appear to attempt to hit out at Mr Veitch through his window before , climbing out of the vehicle .
The filmmaker appears to concede that he was compelled to 'slap ' the driver ' .
Mr Veitch says he was with his young son when he was attacked and feared the youngster was also 'in danger ' .
`` In the video , you see me trying to say 'dude , come on .
I 'm here with a baby ' . ''
Staff at the test centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police officers arrived within minutes , he added .
He also reported the incident to the council .
Mr Veitch insists he was not trying to film anyone at the test centre .
He was unhurt .
A spokesperson for Salford council said : “ The incident was also captured by our CCTV cameras and footage has been passed to the police for review .
`` We have suspended the drivers ’ taxi licence with immediate effect until a full report can be put before the licensing panel.
” A spokesperson for Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' a video purporting to show a confrontation ' and are investigating .

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A taxi driver has had his operator licence suspended after a video emerged of a bust-up with a filmmaker outside a coronavirus testing centre.
Charlie Veitch, whose YouTube videos are watched by nearly 100,000 subscribers across the world, captured footage of the confrontation at the facility outside Salford Civic Centre, in Swinton, on Thursday morning (November 19).
The video shows the pair engaged in an argument before the driver appears to lash out at Mr Veitch several times.
Salford council confirmed it had suspended the driver's taxi licence 'with immediate effect'.
Mr Veitch, 40, said he was using the test centre as a backdrop for a video, in which he was discussing Joe Biden and Donald Trump, when he was confronted by the driver.
As a taxi leaves the mobile facility, it can be seen being driven towards Mr Veitch.
The vehicle then pulls up next to him.
Mr Veitch can be heard saying: "Hi, how can I help you?"
The taxi driver asks him whether is filming, before repeatedly asking him to stop.
(Image: Charlie Veitch)
After a tense exchange, the video shows the driver appear to attempt to hit out at Mr Veitch through his window before, climbing out of the vehicle.
The filmmaker appears to concede that he was compelled to 'slap' the driver'.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
Mr Veitch says he was with his young son when he was attacked and feared the youngster was also 'in danger'.
"I felt shell shocked," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"I feel I was excessively reasonable.
"In the video, you see me trying to say 'dude, come on. I'm here with a baby'."
(Image: Charles Veitch)
Staff at the test centre dialled 999, Mr Veitch said. Police officers arrived within minutes, he added.
He also reported the incident to the council.
Mr Veitch insists he was not trying to film anyone at the test centre. He was unhurt.
A spokesperson for Salford council said: “The incident was also captured by our CCTV cameras and footage has been passed to the police for review.
"We have suspended the drivers’ taxi licence with immediate effect until a full report can be put before the licensing panel.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said officers were aware of 'a video purporting to show a confrontation' and are investigating.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Supermarket worker is jailed for having sex with chickens and his own dog

A supermarket worker has been banned from keeping animals for life after admitting to having sex with chickens and a dog .
Shane Waters 's sick sexual abuse of animals came to light after a farmer discovered a number of injured and dead birds at his Accrington farm .
Waters , 40 , also admitted having sex with his own Great Dane dog and has now been jailed for 30 months , reports Lancashire Live .
Burnley Crown Court heard Waters , a supermarket stock checker , has previous convictions for abusing horses in 1997 and 2016 .
Judge Sara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual as it is disturbing ” as she handed down his sentence .
On September 19 2020 , the farmer at Lower Holker Farm , Accrington , opened the chicken shed to discover a number of dead and injured birds .
Fearing “ something sexual ” had happened to them , he checked CCTV and called in the RSPCA .
Footage showed Waters prowling around the farm before leaving the barn at 11.40pm .
He was arrested on September 23 and told officers : “ I need help .
I know what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urges.
” During his interview , Waters told police he had been on the farm on about nine previous occasions “ but usually only had sex with one chicken ” .
Barbara Webster , prosecuting , said : “ He did not like performing the act and said sorry to the chickens after.
” The court heard a total of 15 chickens died as a result of Waters ’ abuse .
He also admitted having intercourse with his pet dog over a four month period , but said the dog `` did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Anna Chestnut , defending , said Waters hoped to rebuild his life upon his release from prison .
Read more of today 's stories here She said : “ This is not the person he wants to be .
He is thoroughly disgusted by his behaviour.
” Judge Dodd said : “ As I understand it , at least 15 chickens died as a result of your sordid sexual activity .
“ Those who kept the chickens are understandably horrified and appalled by what you have done .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case will be disgusted .
“ Your conduct is distressing and truly worrying , particularly in light of your previous convictions.
” The judge made an indefinite criminal behaviour order banning waters from keeping animals , and made him subject to notification for life .

newsdesk@men-news.co.uk (Rachel Smith, Helen Johnson)

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A supermarket worker has been banned from keeping animals for life after admitting to having sex with chickens and a dog.
Shane Waters's sick sexual abuse of animals came to light after a farmer discovered a number of injured and dead birds at his Accrington farm.
Waters, 40, also admitted having sex with his own Great Dane dog and has now been jailed for 30 months, reports Lancashire Live.
Burnley Crown Court heard Waters, a supermarket stock checker, has previous convictions for abusing horses in 1997 and 2016.
Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here
Judge Sara Dodd said the case was “as unusual as it is disturbing” as she handed down his sentence.
On September 19 2020, the farmer at Lower Holker Farm, Accrington, opened the chicken shed to discover a number of dead and injured birds.
Fearing “something sexual” had happened to them, he checked CCTV and called in the RSPCA.
Footage showed Waters prowling around the farm before leaving the barn at 11.40pm.
He was arrested on September 23 and told officers: “I need help. I know what I have done. I just get these urges.”
During his interview, Waters told police he had been on the farm on about nine previous occasions “but usually only had sex with one chicken”.
Barbara Webster, prosecuting, said: “He did not like performing the act and said sorry to the chickens after.”
The court heard a total of 15 chickens died as a result of Waters’ abuse.
He also admitted having intercourse with his pet dog over a four month period, but said the dog "did not like it and growled and bit him".
Anna Chestnut, defending, said Waters hoped to rebuild his life upon his release from prison.
She said: “This is not the person he wants to be. He is thoroughly disgusted by his behaviour.”
Judge Dodd said: “As I understand it, at least 15 chickens died as a result of your sordid sexual activity.
“Those who kept the chickens are understandably horrified and appalled by what you have done.
“I have no doubt anyone hearing the details of this case will be disgusted.
“Your conduct is distressing and truly worrying, particularly in light of your previous convictions.”
The judge made an indefinite criminal behaviour order banning waters from keeping animals, and made him subject to notification for life.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Woman arrested after 'arson attack' at a home with three kids inside

A woman has been arrested after a 'reckless ' arson attack at a home where three children were inside in Rochdale .
A fire broke out at the residential property on William Henry Street , just off Queensway in the Lowerplace area of the town , at around 4:20am this morning Fire crews raced to the scene and the blaze was exstinguished .
No one was injured .
However police have revealed two adults and three young children were inside at the time and have said 'the consequences could have been dreadful ' following the 'reckless attack . '
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the property .
Investigations into how the fire started are ongoing Greater Manchester Police ( GMP ) said in a statement tonight but they confirmed officers are now treating it as arson .
A 27-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody for questioning .
GMP say their enquiry is `` very much ongoing '' and they are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward .
Detective Inspector Julie Maxwell from GMP 's Rochdale division said : `` Fortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack .
`` Two adults and three young children were present in the address when this attack took place .
`` The consequences could have been dreadful .
`` While we have made an arrest , our enquiries are very much ongoing and I 'd appeal to anyone with information or who may have witnessed the attack to contact police immediately . ''
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or 0161 856 8441 quoting incident number 359 of 20/11/2020 .
Or reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity @ @ @ @ @ @

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A woman has been arrested after a 'reckless' arson attack at a home where three children were inside in Rochdale.
A fire broke out at the residential property on William Henry Street,just off Queensway in the Lowerplace area of the town, at around 4:20am this morning
Fire crews raced to the scene and the blaze was exstinguished.
No one was injured.
However police have revealed two adults and three young children were inside at the time and have said 'the consequences could have been dreadful' following the 'reckless attack.'
There was also damage the front door of the property.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Investigations into how the fire started are ongoing Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said in a statement tonight but they confirmed officers are now treating it as arson.
A 27-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in custody for questioning.
GMP say their enquiry is "very much ongoing" and they are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Julie Maxwell from GMP's Rochdale division said: "Fortunately no one was injured during this reckless attack.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
"Two adults and three young children were present in the address when this attack took place.
"The consequences could have been dreadful.
"While we have made an arrest, our enquiries are very much ongoing and I'd appeal to anyone with information or who may have witnessed the attack to contact police immediately."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or 0161 856 8441 quoting incident number 359 of 20/11/2020.
Or reports can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Latest coronavirus infection rates for Greater Manchester borough-by-borough

Coronavirus infection rates in Greater Manchester have fallen for the 11th day in a row .
Rates are currently falling fastest in Wigan .
There were 1,250 cases in Wigan for the week ending November 16 the latest data from Public Health England shows .
That is 507 fewer than the week before and over 1,000 fewer than the peak in Wigan on October 27 , when there were 2,272 cases in previous seven days .
It means Wigan 's rate , now 380.3 per 100,000 of population , has fallen 45 per cent from its peak level on October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fall further from the peak level , but the city is in many ways an isolated case as its peak was driven by infections in student areas .
The city 's current rate is now the third lowest in the region at 342.1 the data shows .
It had 1,891 cases in the last seven days , 374 less week-on-week , a decrease of 17pc .
Oldham still has the highest rate in the region of 499.8 , nearly double the national average .
However it had 1,185 cases in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a drop of 27 percent .
Bury has also seen a steep decrease with 781 cases there in the last seven days , down by 268 week-on-week , a drop of 26pc .
Its rate is now 408.9 .
We 'd like to know what you think should happen next .
Would you like to see the lockdown extended or should all restrictions be lifted ?
Have your say in our survey below .
Click 'display interactive content ' or follow this link if you ca n't see it on your device @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but was still double digits at 13pc .
There were 864 cases in the borough in the last week , down by 125 .
It 's rate is just under 300 at 294.5 .
Trafford , which saw a 25pc week-on-week reduction in cases , has the lowest rate in the region at 288.2 .
Overall , rates in Greater Manchester are down by a third from their peak level on November 2 , when the average rate for the region was 569.1 .
It now stands at 379.3 , as the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced a fortnight ago on November 5 .
However it must be noted that rates in Greater Manchester were already falling by that point .
The region 's rate is down 20 percent week-on-week compared to just two percent England-wide .

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Coronavirus infection rates in Greater Manchester have fallen for the 11th day in a row.
Rates are currently falling fastest in Wigan.
There were 1,250 cases in Wigan for the week ending November 16 the latest data from Public Health England shows.
That is 507 fewer than the week before and over 1,000 fewer than the peak in Wigan on October 27, when there were 2,272 cases in previous seven days.
It means Wigan's rate, now 380.3 per 100,000 of population, has fallen 45 per cent from its peak level on October 27.
Manchester is the only area to fall further from the peak level, but the city is in many ways an isolated case as its peak was driven by infections in student areas.
The city's current rate is now the third lowest in the region at 342.1 the data shows.
It had 1,891 cases in the last seven days, 374 less week-on-week, a decrease of 17pc.
Oldham still has the highest rate in the region of 499.8, nearly double the national average.
However it had 1,185 cases in the last seven days, down 440, week-on-week, a drop of 27 percent.
Bury has also seen a steep decrease with 781 cases there in the last seven days, down by 268 week-on-week, a drop of 26pc. Its rate is now 408.9.
We'd like to know what you think should happen next. Would you like to see the lockdown extended or should all restrictions be lifted? Have your say in our survey below.
Click 'display interactive content' or follow this link if you can't see it on your device.
The smallest decrease was in Stockport but was still double digits at 13pc.
There were 864 cases in the borough in the last week, down by 125. It's rate is just under 300 at 294.5.
Trafford, which saw a 25pc week-on-week reduction in cases, has the lowest rate in the region at 288.2.
Overall, rates in Greater Manchester are down by a third from their peak level on November 2, when the average rate for the region was 569.1.
It now stands at 379.3, as the region sees the effect of national lockdown measures introduced a fortnight ago on November 5.
However it must be noted that rates in Greater Manchester were already falling by that point.
The region's rate is down 20 percent week-on-week compared to just two percent England-wide.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Paul Pogba open to free transfer away from Manchester United and more rumours

Paul Pogba is open to running down his contract at Manchester United and leaving on a free transfer for the second time in his career , according to reports .
The France World Cup winner has struggled to live up his expectations since the United academy graduate returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a club-record £89m fee .
Links with a return to Juventus , as well as reported interest from Real Madrid , have been present ever since and speculation of an exit has never been too far away .
However , the Athletic suggests that Pogba has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United once again and is prepared to wait 18 months in order for an exit .
Pogba currently has a season-and-a-half remaining on his contract at United and is reluctant to sign any extension with his role in the side not guaranteed .
He will be 29 when his current deal expires and it 's suggested that he would have his pick of clubs to choose from and he has been dubbed a 'diminishing asset ' due to his situation .
United , therefore , could have three windows to negotiate a sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his services and next summer would be the most likely time for that to occur .
That said , he is just 14 months away from being able to negotiate a pre-contractual agreement with clubs outside of the Premier League so time is definitely of the essence .
Elsewhere , Football Insider reports that Daniel James is attracting the interest of Everton with his situation at United being uncertain .
The Wales international has seen first-team opportunities decrease this season and has struggled to replicate the form that he showed in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With United signing Facundo Pellestri in the summer and welcoming Amad Diallo to Old Trafford in the New Year , as well as continuing to court Jadon Sancho , James ' long-term role in the side is at risk .
United get their Premier League campaign back underway on Saturday when they welcome strugglers West Brom to Old Trafford .
The under-pressure Reds came from behind to beat Everton last time out thanks to Bruno Fernandes ' double and Edinson Cavani 's first goal for United .
The players are returning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping to have as few injury and fitness concerns as possible among the stars coming back from international duty .
We 'll be bringing you all the latest updates and build-up to the game , and you can have it all delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter by submitting your email address in the sign-up box above , or click here - it 's free and it only takes a few seconds .
Carlo Ancelotti is said to be keen on the 23-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a long line of players to move across the north-west from United to Goodison Park .
It 's added that Everton tried to sign James from Swansea City last summer prior to his move to United and their interest has remained since .
A temporary move in the New Year could work for all parties , providing James with opportunities to play that could boost his confidence ahead of next summer .

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Paul Pogba is open to running down his contract at Manchester United and leaving on a free transfer for the second time in his career, according to reports.
The France World Cup winner has struggled to live up his expectations since the United academy graduate returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for a club-record £89m fee.
Links with a return to Juventus, as well as reported interest from Real Madrid, have been present ever since and speculation of an exit has never been too far away.
However, the Athletic suggests that Pogba has ultimately come to the decision to leave United once again and is prepared to wait 18 months in order for an exit.
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Pogba currently has a season-and-a-half remaining on his contract at United and is reluctant to sign any extension with his role in the side not guaranteed.
He will be 29 when his current deal expires and it's suggested that he would have his pick of clubs to choose from and he has been dubbed a 'diminishing asset' due to his situation.
United, therefore, could have three windows to negotiate a sale in order to recoup a fee for his services and next summer would be the most likely time for that to occur.
That said, he is just 14 months away from being able to negotiate a pre-contractual agreement with clubs outside of the Premier League so time is definitely of the essence.
Elsewhere, Football Insider reports that Daniel James is attracting the interest of Everton with his situation at United being uncertain.
The Wales international has seen first-team opportunities decrease this season and has struggled to replicate the form that he showed in the first few months following his transfer last summer.
With United signing Facundo Pellestri in the summer and welcoming Amad Diallo to Old Trafford in the New Year, as well as continuing to court Jadon Sancho, James' long-term role in the side is at risk.
Carlo Ancelotti is said to be keen on the 23-year-old, who could therefore become the latest in a long line of players to move across the north-west from United to Goodison Park.
It's added that Everton tried to sign James from Swansea City last summer prior to his move to United and their interest has remained since.
A temporary move in the New Year could work for all parties, providing James with opportunities to play that could boost his confidence ahead of next summer.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Locals react to the closure of town's shopping centre

Shoppers have reacted with anger , disappointment and shock after the closure of a Rochdale shopping centre was announced .
Centre bosses confirmed that The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre will close at the end of lockdown , on December 2 .
Owners MCR Property Group have blamed a 'nationwide shift in shopping habits ' and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
But the news has devastated those who own businesses and work in the centre , and left shoppers extremely disappointed by the loss of the Baillie Street centre .
We visited Rochdale town centre to ask shoppers how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly visited the centre to meet friends at the cafe , and says it is 'awful ' that people will now lose the social connections it offered .
Christina , who asked us not to use her last name , said : `` The little cafe in there is a lovely meeting place for people '' Older , retired people meet there for coffee .
There 's a piano there , they have a pianist come in .
There 's so much depressing going on , it just lifts people a bit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their sixties .
I think it is absolutely awful if they take that off us .
`` It 's indoors so you can go in winter .
It 's absolutely abominable to take it from us .
`` They say all meet at Russells , it 's under a dome , you get the feeling you 're sitting outside even though you are not , to take that away , I just think 'oh no ' .
`` And there 's some lovely shops in there .
`` What are they going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know it needs to stay open . ''
Kathleen Hill only learned the centre was to close when she stopped to talk to the M.E.N .
She said she felt the town centre 's new retail and leisure complex Riverside , which opened earlier this year had 'taken everything from everywhere else ' .
She said : `` Oh , that 's disgusting .
I 'm shocked .
`` What else is going to close in Rochdale ?
`` I 'm not saying I use it every day , I come once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere I always go and have a look at and nearly always buy something .
`` Alright , this precinct [ the Rochdale Riverside development ] is very nice , but it 's taken everything from everywhere else '' .
We asked Kathleen what she would like to see on the site of the Wheatsheaf .
She added : `` I 'd like to see a Primark in it , I think it would bring a lot more life and more people .
`` Everywhere you go there 's a Primark , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm just shocked .
I know a lot of people walk through but a lot of people shop there as well . ''
Christine Broughton goes to the Wheatsheaf about once a week and was surprised to learn that it is closing .
Christine said : `` I 'm surprised , though I must admit , a few things in there have closed down because of the rents being too high , and if they have n't got the footfall , people buying things they just ca n't afford to keep it open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a good shop in there , where you could get cut price books , they 've opened now down the new place , Riverside , they 've got a shop there .
I 'm an avid reader and I 'd miss it .
`` I 'm surprised it [ the Wheatsheaf ] is closing though .
We asked Christine if she thought the new development had impacted on older shopping areas , such as the Wheatsheaf .
She added : `` It probably has .
I think if you have places where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area , you do n't tend to go out of your way somewhere else , and that 's the problem .
`` It 's like Marks and Spencer , I have a gluten free diet and they sell a lot of good food for it , so now I have to go all the way over there , you 've got to go right down Baillie Street to get to Marks . ''
Peter said he remembered when the town centre was as busy as ' a football match . '
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilkinsons here and it was a great shop .
That went .
It used to have two floors , then they cut that out , then one , then it was gone .
`` It is disappointing when shops close , it 's like a ghost town now compared to what it used to be .
`` I can remember when this ( Yorkshire Street ) was like a football match .
And Drake Street , that was the same , that 's gone completely .
`` I 'd like to see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no pubs left , but that applies everywhere , pub life is finished now , a whole way of life has gone .
`` You could go in pubs and socialise and now I have n't been in a pub since last March . ''
Ahmer Khan said it was a shame to see the Wheatsheaf close , and felt its future could lie in the site being diversified beyond retail .
Ahmer said : `` It 's been around since the late eighties i think , it 's a shame it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shame as we 've just had a new shopping area built , so the closure of this means there 's probably more businesses going to go down there .
`` It 's strange as we have the high street , then you had the Wheatsheaf since then and now you have the new one , so it feels like business just has moved from A to B , to B to C and from C to D. '' As we 've moved the shopping area over there , people have just moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so it just means that other areas are becoming empty as time moves along .
`` It 's a shame , I feel sorry for the businesses really because they will be struggling anyway .
`` I would pop into the Wheatsheaf now and again and it 's a shame to hear that it 's completely closing . ''
We asked Ahmer what he would like to see happen to the centre .
He added : `` I think they need to attract more businesses , but I think retail is struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one for the landlords to attract businesses .
`` It could be used for some other use , leisure , entertainment , food , they could diversify it in some way . ''

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Shoppers have reacted with anger, disappointment and shock after the closure of a Rochdale shopping centre was announced.
Centre bosses confirmed that The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre will close at the end of lockdown, on December 2.
Owners MCR Property Group have blamed a 'nationwide shift in shopping habits' and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
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But the news has devastated those who own businesses and work in the centre, and left shoppers extremely disappointed by the loss of the Baillie Street centre.
We visited Rochdale town centre to ask shoppers how they felt about the Wheatsheaf closing.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Christina regularly visited the centre to meet friends at the cafe, and says it is 'awful' that people will now lose the social connections it offered.
Christina, who asked us not to use her last name, said: "The little cafe in there is a lovely meeting place for people
"Older, retired people meet there for coffee. There's a piano there, they have a pianist come in. There's so much depressing going on, it just lifts people a bit.
"It's nearly all people in their sixties. I think it is absolutely awful if they take that off us.
"It's indoors so you can go in winter. It's absolutely abominable to take it from us.
"They say all meet at Russells, it's under a dome, you get the feeling you're sitting outside even though you are not, to take that away, I just think 'oh no'.
"And there's some lovely shops in there.
"What are they going to do with it if it closes? I know it needs to stay open."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Kathleen Hill only learned the centre was to close when she stopped to talk to the M.E.N.
She said she felt the town centre's new retail and leisure complex Riverside, which opened earlier this year had 'taken everything from everywhere else'.
She said: "Oh, that's disgusting. I'm shocked.
"What else is going to close in Rochdale?
"I'm not saying I use it every day, I come once or twice a week but it's somewhere I always go and have a look at and nearly always buy something.
"Alright, this precinct [the Rochdale Riverside development] is very nice, but it's taken everything from everywhere else".
We asked Kathleen what she would like to see on the site of the Wheatsheaf.
She added: "I'd like to see a Primark in it, I think it would bring a lot more life and more people .
"Everywhere you go there's a Primark, and loads of people go.
"I'm just shocked. I know a lot of people walk through but a lot of people shop there as well."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Christine Broughton goes to the Wheatsheaf about once a week and was surprised to learn that it is closing.
Christine said: "I'm surprised, though I must admit, a few things in there have closed down because of the rents being too high, and if they haven't got the footfall, people buying things they just can't afford to keep it open.
"Like The Works, they had a good shop in there, where you could get cut price books, they've opened now down the new place, Riverside, they've got a shop there. I'm an avid reader and I'd miss it.
"I'm surprised it [the Wheatsheaf] is closing though.
We asked Christine if she thought the new development had impacted on older shopping areas, such as the Wheatsheaf.
She added: "It probably has. I think if you have places where you regularly visit, in the same area, you don't tend to go out of your way somewhere else, and that's the problem.
"It's like Marks and Spencer, I have a gluten free diet and they sell a lot of good food for it, so now I have to go all the way over there, you've got to go right down Baillie Street to get to Marks."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Peter said he remembered when the town centre was as busy as 'a football match.'
He said: "We used to have a Wilkinsons here and it was a great shop. That went. It used to have two floors, then they cut that out, then one, then it was gone.
"It is disappointing when shops close, it's like a ghost town now compared to what it used to be.
"I can remember when this (Yorkshire Street) was like a football match. And Drake Street, that was the same, that's gone completely.
"I'd like to see it liven up a bit, there's no pubs left, but that applies everywhere, pub life is finished now, a whole way of life has gone.
"You could go in pubs and socialise and now I haven't been in a pub since last March."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Ahmer Khan said it was a shame to see the Wheatsheaf close, and felt its future could lie in the site being diversified beyond retail.
Ahmer said: "It's been around since the late eighties i think, it's a shame it's come to closure.
"It's a shame as we've just had a new shopping area built , so the closure of this means there's probably more businesses going to go down there.
"It's strange as we have the high street, then you had the Wheatsheaf since then and now you have the new one, so it feels like business just has moved from A to B, to B to C and from C to D.
"As we've moved the shopping area over there, people have just moved from that area to the new one, so it just means that other areas are becoming empty as time moves along.
"It's a shame, I feel sorry for the businesses really because they will be struggling anyway.
"I would pop into the Wheatsheaf now and again and it's a shame to hear that it's completely closing."
We asked Ahmer what he would like to see happen to the centre.
He added: "I think they need to attract more businesses, but I think retail is struggling anyway so it'll be a tough one for the landlords to attract businesses.
"It could be used for some other use, leisure, entertainment, food, they could diversify it in some way."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Scouse hardman arranged for prison officers' cars to be torched at Strangeways

Scouse hardman Sam Walker has had his jail term increased after arranging for prison officers ' cars to be torched while he was behind bars in Manchester .
The 37-year-old caused trouble at Strangeways , then threatened officers at HMP Durham soon after he was transferred , the Liverpool Echo reports .
Walker , originally from Liverpool , was jailed at Durham Crown Court for another 18 months after he admitted six offences , including conspiracy to commit criminal damage .
He was also made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting four named prison officers and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from intimidating jail staff .
Shaun Dryden , prosecuting , said Walker was found to have a mobile phone when he was brought into Strangeways on February 2 this year .
Two days later another phone was found hidden in the hem of his dressing gown when his cell was searched .
Because he was found with the phones , in breach of prison rules , he was told he would be placed on a basic regime , and he became abusive .
Mr Dryden said Walker told staff that `` he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever he wanted and he would find officers ' addresses and he would send people around '' .
That evening , four men got into the staff car park at Strangeways and damaged seven vehicles , including one belonging to a nurse , smashing windows and pouring a corrosive substance on them .
The court was told £6,000 worth of damage was caused .
The next day , Walker told a prison officer that the people on the outside had wanted to burn prison officers ' houses down but he had told them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` a good guy '' for that reason , Mr Dryden said .
Walker was transferred to Durham Prison and the next month became argumentative with a prison officer , throwing a metal flask at him , which the guard deflected .
The court heard Walker was restrained and suffered a head injury .
Walker later told a different prison officer , who was aware of what had happened at Strangeways , his house would be burnt down .
And days later he told a female officer he had not forgotten the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flask incident , that he would be out of jail in two weeks , and made a gun gesture while walking away , commenting : `` Bang , bang . ''
She was so concerned she told a senior member of staff , who contacted the police .
The court heard Walker had 48 convictions for 142 offences , including conspiracy to supply heroin and crack .
Caroline Abraham , defending , said Walker had ADHD and was first convicted aged 14 .
She said he planned to return to Liverpool on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lined up in the security industry working at different sites .
Judge Ray Singh told him : `` Prison officers who carry out their lawful duty are there not only to protect the public at large but also prisoners . ''

newsdesk@men-news.co.uk (Lottie Gibbons, Charlotte Dobson, Tom Wilkinson)

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Scouse hardman Sam Walker has had his jail term increased after arranging for prison officers' cars to be torched while he was behind bars in Manchester.
The 37-year-old caused trouble at Strangeways, then threatened officers at HMP Durham soon after he was transferred, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Walker, originally from Liverpool, was jailed at Durham Crown Court for another 18 months after he admitted six offences, including conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
He was also made subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting four named prison officers and a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order to stop him from intimidating jail staff.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Walker was found to have a mobile phone when he was brought into Strangeways on February 2 this year.
Two days later another phone was found hidden in the hem of his dressing gown when his cell was searched.
Because he was found with the phones, in breach of prison rules, he was told he would be placed on a basic regime, and he became abusive.
Mr Dryden said Walker told staff that "he had a line of kids waiting to do whatever he wanted and he would find officers' addresses and he would send people around".
That evening, four men got into the staff car park at Strangeways and damaged seven vehicles, including one belonging to a nurse, smashing windows and pouring a corrosive substance on them.
The court was told £6,000 worth of damage was caused.
The next day, Walker told a prison officer that the people on the outside had wanted to burn prison officers' houses down but he had told them not to, and thought of himself as "a good guy" for that reason, Mr Dryden said.
Walker was transferred to Durham Prison and the next month became argumentative with a prison officer, throwing a metal flask at him, which the guard deflected.
The court heard Walker was restrained and suffered a head injury.
Walker later told a different prison officer, who was aware of what had happened at Strangeways, his house would be burnt down.
And days later he told a female officer he had not forgotten the incident with the officer involved in the flask incident, that he would be out of jail in two weeks, and made a gun gesture while walking away, commenting: "Bang, bang."
She was so concerned she told a senior member of staff, who contacted the police.
The court heard Walker had 48 convictions for 142 offences, including conspiracy to supply heroin and crack.
Caroline Abraham, defending, said Walker had ADHD and was first convicted aged 14.
She said he planned to return to Liverpool on his release, and that he had work lined up in the security industry working at different sites.
Judge Ray Singh told him: "Prison officers who carry out their lawful duty are there not only to protect the public at large but also prisoners."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Woman who drove from court MINUTES after being banned from roads avoids jail

A woman who got behind the wheel MINUTES after being disqualified from driving following a smash on the M60 has avoided jail - but has been slapped with a hefty fine .
Simara Knopka was spotted by a Manchester Evening News photographer driving away in her son ’ s Nissan Micra following a court appearence .
Minutes earlier , she had been banned from the road by a judge .
Knopka was disqualified at Manchester Crown Court on November 5 having driven the wrong way down the M60 and smashing into a car head-on .
The 39-year-old - who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has never passed a test - was pictured driving away from court just minutes after receiving a two-year ban .
She pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at Manchester Magistrates ' Court .
Today ( Friday ) , she appeared before the Crown Court judge who sentenced her the first time around .
Knopka , who works as a housekeeper at a hotel , was handed a four-month sentence , suspended for two years .
The defendant , of Earlsway , Macclesfield , was hit with a £1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 months , to run alongside her current ban .
A further month was added to her electronically monitored curfew and she must pay court costs of £340 .
Prosecutor Craig MacGregor earlier said Knopka was sentenced to a community order - as well as the ban - for dangerous driving and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence during her first court appearance .
He said : “ On May 28 Miss Knopka drove her car onto the M60 slip road at junction 15 against the flow of traffic and collided head-on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The police were informed and at just after 1.15am PC Patel arrived and a roadside breath test was completed and although she said to the officer she had not had a drink , she blew 24ml - the legal limit being 35ml.
” Officers dealt with the other car , which had flipped onto its roof , before returning to Knopka .
Cops soon realised she only had a provisional licence , was not displaying L plates and was not being supervised by a qualified driver .
An interim ban was imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance as magistrates deemed their sentencing powers insufficient .
Knopka was disqualified from driving for two years and told from that moment on , she should not drive until she passed an extended re-test .
`` Having been given the opportunity by the court the defendant left the court building , '' Mr MacGregor told Friday 's hearing .
`` Having just been banned from driving for two years - and with the learned judge ’ s warning ringing in her ears - [ she ] decided to drive home . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press photographer Steve Allen , who was working for the M.E.N .
at the sentence hearing .
`` He took photographs of the defendant driving out of Bridge Street car park , coming out of court with a friend - Bridge Street car park is but a few metres from the entrance to the court building .
`` If it had not been for the M.E.N .
photographer , these offences would have never have come to light .
`` It is the Crown ’ s case that this was a brazen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Crown Court . ''
Knopka said she drove to court as she did not have many people in the UK to support her .
Mr MacGregor added : `` Miss Knopka has not got and never has had a full UK licence , was on an interim disqualification when she deliberately chose to drive to and from court . ''
Defence lawyer Thomas McKail initially applied to adjourn the case to apply for a psychiatric report .
He said Knopka had suffered with symptoms of anxiety and depression following the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for which she has received therapy and medication for the past six years .
These symptoms had subsided until her split from her husband in January this year , though she did not tell the author of the probation report as she was ‘ embarrassed by it ’ , Mr McKail added .
She has since been prescribed medication from her doctors including antidepressants and has sought counselling .
“ These symptoms presented themselves through this year , and in some parts contributed to her error and lapse of judgement , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the type of behaviour she would ordinarily behave in and she apologises to the court .
“ There was a court appearance on November 5 , she had arranged to be brought by her friend - she was let down by her friend .
“ Due to the defendant ’ s lack of sleep , her anxiety and being extremely concerned and worried about the court proceedings , she decided that in order to be on time , she would drive to court .
“ Respectfully , this was not a flagrant disregard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a necessary act to ensure she was on time for these courts that day .
“ Given her position at the time she made that decision , one of pure lunacy , to drive to court .
“ She apologises to Your Honour readily for this act and she apologises to the public for this act .
“ She accepts and understands the angry reaction from the Manchester people from being in the paper.
” He added that Knopka had bought the car for her eldest son , but following her arrest she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nick Clarke QC told Knopka : “ On November 5 you were sentenced by me on the basis you had no previous convictions and I was told about your personal circumstances and work ethic , and so I allowed you your liberty but disqualified you from driving for two years .
“ I specifically told you that before you could drive again you must pass an extended driving test .
“ Yet you reaped the mercy I showed by immediately driving home .
“ I thank the Manchester Evening News and Mr Allen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attention of the police and providing a photograph of the defendant driving out of Bridge Street car park - which officers provided the incontrovertible evidence that proved the case against you .

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A woman who got behind the wheel MINUTES after being disqualified from driving following a smash on the M60 has avoided jail - but has been slapped with a hefty fine.
Simara Knopka was spotted by a Manchester Evening News photographer driving away in her son’s Nissan Micra following a court appearence.
Minutes earlier, she had been banned from the road by a judge.
Knopka was disqualified at Manchester Crown Court on November 5 having driven the wrong way down the M60 and smashing into a car head-on.
The 39-year-old - who has never held a full UK driving licence and has never passed a test - was pictured driving away from court just minutes after receiving a two-year ban.
(Image: STEVE ALLEN)
She pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
Today (Friday), she appeared before the Crown Court judge who sentenced her the first time around.
Knopka, who works as a housekeeper at a hotel, was handed a four-month sentence, suspended for two years.
The defendant, of Earlsway, Macclesfield, was hit with a £1,000 fine and banned from the roads for 12 months, to run alongside her current ban.
A further month was added to her electronically monitored curfew and she must pay court costs of £340.
Prosecutor Craig MacGregor earlier said Knopka was sentenced to a community order - as well as the ban - for dangerous driving and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence during her first court appearance.
He said: “On May 28 Miss Knopka drove her car onto the M60 slip road at junction 15 against the flow of traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle on the motorway.
“The police were informed and at just after 1.15am PC Patel arrived and a roadside breath test was completed and although she said to the officer she had not had a drink, she blew 24ml - the legal limit being 35ml.”
Officers dealt with the other car, which had flipped onto its roof, before returning to Knopka.
Cops soon realised she only had a provisional licence, was not displaying L plates and was not being supervised by a qualified driver.
An interim ban was imposed prior to her initial Crown Court sentencing appearance as magistrates deemed their sentencing powers insufficient.
Recorder Nick Clarke QC made Knopka the subject of a two-month community order, a four-month electronically monitored curfew.
He handed her a £500 fine.
Knopka was disqualified from driving for two years and told from that moment on, she should not drive until she passed an extended re-test.
"Having been given the opportunity by the court the defendant left the court building," Mr MacGregor told Friday's hearing.
"Having just been banned from driving for two years - and with the learned judge’s warning ringing in her ears - [she] decided to drive home."
"The driving was caught on camera by press photographer Steve Allen, who was working for the M.E.N. at the sentence hearing.
"He took photographs of the defendant driving out of Bridge Street car park, coming out of court with a friend - Bridge Street car park is but a few metres from the entrance to the court building.
"If it had not been for the M.E.N. photographer, these offences would have never have come to light.
"It is the Crown’s case that this was a brazen, if not barefaced disregard for orders of the Crown Court."
Knopka said she drove to court as she did not have many people in the UK to support her.
Mr MacGregor added: "Miss Knopka has not got and never has had a full UK licence, was on an interim disqualification when she deliberately chose to drive to and from court."
(Image: STEVE ALLEN)
Defence lawyer Thomas McKail initially applied to adjourn the case to apply for a psychiatric report.
He said Knopka had suffered with symptoms of anxiety and depression following the death of her mother from cancer 10 years ago, for which she has received therapy and medication for the past six years.
These symptoms had subsided until her split from her husband in January this year, though she did not tell the author of the probation report as she was ‘embarrassed by it’, Mr McKail added.
She has since been prescribed medication from her doctors including antidepressants and has sought counselling.
“These symptoms presented themselves through this year, and in some parts contributed to her error and lapse of judgement,” he said.
“This isn't the type of behaviour she would ordinarily behave in and she apologises to the court.
“There was a court appearance on November 5, she had arranged to be brought by her friend - she was let down by her friend.
“Due to the defendant’s lack of sleep, her anxiety and being extremely concerned and worried about the court proceedings, she decided that in order to be on time, she would drive to court.
“Respectfully, this was not a flagrant disregard for the disqualification - she considered it a necessary act to ensure she was on time for these courts that day.
“Given her position at the time she made that decision, one of pure lunacy, to drive to court.
“She apologises to Your Honour readily for this act and she apologises to the public for this act.
“She accepts and understands the angry reaction from the Manchester people from being in the paper.”
He added that Knopka had bought the car for her eldest son, but following her arrest she sold the vehicle for £1,500.
Recorder Nick Clarke QC told Knopka: “On November 5 you were sentenced by me on the basis you had no previous convictions and I was told about your personal circumstances and work ethic, and so I allowed you your liberty but disqualified you from driving for two years.
“I specifically told you that before you could drive again you must pass an extended driving test.
“Yet you reaped the mercy I showed by immediately driving home.
“I thank the Manchester Evening News and Mr Allen in particular for bringing these matters to the attention of the police and providing a photograph of the defendant driving out of Bridge Street car park - which officers provided the incontrovertible evidence that proved the case against you.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-11-20--Armed robbers force their way into Wigan shop and steal cash

A group of armed thieves broke into a convenience store and snatched cash before making off .
Police are investigating @ @ @ @ @ around 6am yesterday ( Thursday ) at the McColls shop on Atherton Road in Hindley @ @ @ @ @ hurt in the robbery and the store has opened to the public as normal today @ @ @ @ @ calling for anyone who might have information about the incident to get in touch .
@ @ @ @ @ : `` Just after 6am yesterday , officers were called to a report of an @ @ @ @ @ in Wigan .
`` It is believed three men , two of which were armed @ @ @ @ @ and made off with cash .
`` No one was injured .
`` Enquiries are @ @ @ @ @ can call 101 quoting incident 402 of 19/11/20 .
Incidents can also be reported to @ @ @ @ @

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A group of armed thieves broke into a convenience store and snatched cash before making off.
Police are investigating the incident, which happened around 6am yesterday (Thursday) at the McColls shop on Atherton Road in Hindley Green.
Fortunately nobody was hurt in the robbery and the store has opened to the public as normal today.
However, officers are calling for anyone who might have information about the incident to get in touch.
A spokesman for GMP said: "Just after 6am yesterday, officers were called to a report of an armed robbery on Atherton Road in Wigan.
"It is believed three men, two of which were armed, broke into the store and made off with cash.
"No one was injured.
"Enquiries are on-going and anyone with information can call 101 quoting incident 402 of 19/11/20.
"Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Incidents can also be reported to GMP online at www.gmp.police.uk.