NUFC: No truth in Williams stories.

British football club Newcastle United has played down speculation that it may be in line for an offer from Formula One team boss - and die-hard Toon fan - Sir Frank Williams.

According to the national Sunday press, Williams was in the Newcastle area last week, and was immediately linked to the possibility that he was to take a significant stake in the club he has supported since childhood.

Some stories speculated that Williams would buy out former chairman John Hall's 47 per cent holding, while the Sunday Times suggested that the wheelchair-bound team boss could be poised to buy into the club, thereby enabling current chairman Freddie Shepherd, to buy Hall out and remove the club from the stock exchange. Shepherd apparently met with Williams for some time last Thursday.

However, keen to avoid being drawn into boardroom rumour, especially as Bobby Robson's team appears to be getting things together on the pitch, the club has played down the rumours.

"Mr Williams was in the area and had a meeting with various people at the club, but it was a personal visit and nothing more," a spokesman confirmed to the Reuters news agency.

Newcastle United has already dipped its toe into the racing waters, backing one of Laurence Pearce's Listers in the British and FIA GT championships.