Boxing: McCormack and Arthur to part company

Lochend club boxing coach Terry McCormack has announced that he has terminated his role as former WBO super-featherweight Alex Arthur's ring coach and cornerman.

The move ends an on-off professional association which has lasted since 2002. McCormack said: "It wasn't an easy decision to take but I want to concentrate now on my younger fighters at the Lochend gym such as Paul Appleby, who has just returned to train after taking a break since November. Paul will now fight exclusively as a featherweight-and my aim is to help get him right back into the championship frame. Welterweight John Thain and British Masters welterweight champion Gary McMillan also have bouts to prepare for.

"I felt I was speading myself too thinly around my boxers in the Lochend gym so I told both Alex Arthur and bantamweight Gareth Stemp that I no longer can act for them as their ring cornerman or trainer, although I wish both boxers all the very best in the future. I also have several top amateurs like Josh Taylor and Kevin Skey on the brink of British and Olympic squad places and that, too, was a factor in my decision.''

• KENNY ANDERSON confirmed yesterday that his next super-middleweight bout will be on March 26 at Stoke-On-Trent. "The plan is for me to box an international opponent rather than a British rival,'' he said.