Ladbrokes chief to quit

LADBROKES’ veteran PR director Mike Dillon, 67, is understood to be negotiating his retirement from the betting company. Dillon’s high status on the racing circuit has never quite been the same since his fall-out with former close friend Sir Alex Ferguson over super horse Rock of Gibraltar’s disputed ownership.

Dillon sided for work reasons with Fergie’s arch opponents, Ireland’s Coolmore set. It was Dillon, a Manchester United fan, who recognised the potential of the Coolmore horse that was gifted to Ferguson for publicity reasons when it finished sixth as a two-year-old in Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes in 2001. But no one expected the Rock to win seven Group one races on the trot in Ferguson’s colours, sparking the nuclear battle for breeding monies.

NEW West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first visit to the London Stadium since his appointment was to watch the Rolling Stones in concert with his wife Carola from the directors box on Tuesday.