On the line: Why Microsoft billionaire is buying Saints

The answer is that, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and now, probably, Arsenal all spoken for, taking a punt on promotion is another way of trying to capitalise on the Premier League's bumper new television contract.

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As co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen knows a thing or two about building businesses.

And with each Premiership club guaranteed £30 million in TV revenue alone next season, the £70m or so it would take to buy Southampton's shares, wipe out £25m debts and buy new players would, in theory, be covered in two years. Add the vicarious thrill of owning a franchise in the richest league of the world's biggest sport and the opportunities for incestuous marketing with Allen's other sporting interests — American football's Seattle Seahawks and basketball's Portland Trail Blazers — and the reasons for the unlikely marriage become clearer.

With an £18 billion fortune, Allen will survive if it all ends in tears. And we can expect more rich businessmen, from the US and elsewhere, to sink a bit of their fortune into the Championship, Ipswich being abuzz with takeover talk at the moment.

Quest for the transfer truth

Premier League sleuths Quest and the Football Association will interview unlicensed agent David Abou on Tuesday about his involvement in the transfer to Bolton of Tal Ben Haim, Blessing Kaku and Idan Tal.

He will also be able to pass on information about the 2005 arrival of Mexico international Jared Borgetti, whose representatives have raised concerns about the way the deal was conducted.

The meetings with Abou will form part of what is expected to be the endgame for Quest's £1million, year-long probe.

Pompey's £600m dream is a tall order

The venture company with a 50 per cent stake in Portsmouth's dream of a £600 million waterfront stadium and housing development are so anxious to avoid a planning inquiry they have already fired the opening shots in a propaganda offensive. The Sellar Property Group, who will form a joint venture company with the club and owner Alexandre Gaydamak's Miland Development 2004 firm, saw objections hold up their project to build Europe's tallest building, the Shard of Glass, at London Bridge, by a year. Barry Ostle, Sellar's development director, warned that the Portsmouth scheme will not get off the ground if it gets a negative reaction from the public and Portsmouth City Council. Any future charm offensive by Sellar will have to win over the Queen, however. Along with the city council and the Royal Navy, the Crown Estates own part of the 13 acres of reclaimed land that make up the site.

Heal thyself, Tweddle

Beth Tweddle, Britain's most successful ever gymnast, will soon be embarking on work experience as a physiotherapist, which may be just as well.

Yet another injury means the 22-year-old sports science student can compete today in only the floor final at the European Individual Championships in Amsterdam, a shoulder operation having stopped her defending her title on the uneven bars and the recurrence of a foot problem ruling her out of the beam.