Richard Sutcliffe: Expect the Special One to make the most of Brown's ambition

IN these most austere of times where each passing day seems to bring even gloomier forecasts about the hardship that will accompany the impending Government cuts, finding anyone with something positive to say about Gordon Brown is not an easy task.

The legacy of his time as prime minister seems to be one of pain for many sectors of society as the UK tries to get back on its feet.

Come May, however, the Scot's few remaining loyalists will at least have something positive to cling on to – namely his role in bringing club football's showpiece game to these shores as the new Wembley hosts its first Champions League final.

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It was, let's not forget, Brown's Government – and, in particular, his then-Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe – who smoothed the way for UEFA to bring the final to the capital for the first time since 1992 by including in last year's budget a dispsensation that overseas players taking part would not be liable to pay tax.

Previously, this lack of a tax waiver had been cited as the reason why Madrid's Bernabeu was chosen ahead of Wembley for this year's final as UEFA did not want players such as Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o to be taxed at up to 50 per cent on any prize money earned from taking part.

A similar agreement is also understood to be in place should England win the right to host the 2018 World Cup.

This dispensation is why the Champions League (nee European Cup) final will return to this country for a seventh time come May.

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The big question ahead of the group stages getting underway tomorrow night is whether one of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham will be able to follow in the footsteps of Sir Matt Busby's United (1968) and Bob Paisley's Liverpool (1978) in triumphing on home soil.

Looking at the draw for the group stages, all four English clubs are capable of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Spurs, in drawing holders Inter Milan, face the hardest task, though Harry Redknapp's side must surely fancy their chances of pipping Werder Bremen and FC Twente to second place in Group A.

Elsewhere, it would be a major shock if Manchester United did not finish top of a group including Valencia, Rangers and Buraspor. Likewise, Chelsea should have little trouble against Marseille, Spartak Moscow and the Slovakian champions Zilnia.

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Arsenal must also be favourites to claim pole position in Group H, even allowing for the tough travelling involved in taking on Shakhtar Donetsk and Partizan Belgrade along with Portuguese side Braga.

Once we enter into the knockout stages, it would – even allowing for the vagaries of the draw – be a major surprise if two, and probably three, English sides are not still in the competition when it reaches the quarter-finals.

In terms, however, of where the Sutcliffe fiver for the eventual winners will be going ahead of tomorrow evening, La Liga's big two look the most appealing.

Barcelona's merits have been clear for all to see in recent years, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the man to benefit most from Gordon Brown's tax waiver next May will be Jose Mourinho as his pay packet is boosted by a hefty bonus for leading Real Madrid to a tenth European title.

The man who won it with Porto and then Inter, is very much on for the hat-trick.