Many questioned the wisdom of calling up a young driver who had almost lost his feet in a Formula 3000 accident only months before. Alas, subsequent races confirmed he was not fit enough for the rigours of Formula One and Benetton dropped him mid-season. He returned, with Lotus, late the following year and, although he claimed two victories back at Benetton in 1994, he feels he has never been the force he should have been."My career hasn't been as good as I would have liked and a lot of people have told me I shouldn't have taken that Benetton drive," he said "But I don't regret that. It was a chance I had to take and everybody remembers that first race. I thought things through many times and in my next life I won't have that accident. I was lucky to get back into motor racing and didn't lose my feet."I was the up-and-coming kid and I believe I would have done better but for the accident. But I've won three races by being in the right place at the right time and a lot of good drivers never win."It sounded like Herbert's valedictory, especially when he has little hope of changing the trend of the season here.

Qualifying has never been his strength and poor starts caused by clutch problems have compounded his plight."I'm fortunate the team are behind me and I appreciate that," he said. "But it has got to get better if I'm to have a chance of staying That's not only down to me It's down to all of us We're improving, but so are the other teams. It will be tough."Another driver in apparent danger of the sack, Benetton's Alexander Wurz, was second yesterday, followed by the McLaren-Mercedes pair, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, the championship leader, was fifth and his brother, Ralf, in the other Williams, sixth.. A consortium headed by the former Hull City chairman Don Robinson yesterday gained control of Hull Kingston Rovers, one of the ailing giants of the game. A consortium headed by the former Hull City chairman Don Robinson yesterday gained control of Hull Kingston Rovers, one of the ailing giants of the game. Robinson, a Scarborough-based businessman, has taken over as the chairman of a new board of directors after the consortium and Hull City Council agreed a joint deal to buy the club's Craven Park ground for £650,000.The deal ends three years of uncertainty for Rovers, who will come out of administration and set up a Creditors' Voluntary Agreement to pay off £1.1m debts.The ground, also used for speedway and greyhound racing, will be leased back to the club, while a new five-man board will take charge of the administration. The board will include the Rovers coach, Dave Harrison."Sometimes it's best to have a complete change and to make a fresh start," Robinson said.

"This seems like one of those times."I wanted Dave to be closely involved with us because every time I've spoken to him he's come across as a real club man, someone who cares very deeply about what happens here."Hull KR were champions three times in seven years during the early Eighties and were Challenge Cup runners-up at Wembley in 1986 but failed to build on that success. They are currently seventh in the Northern Ford Premiership.. As rumours continue to surround the departure of one rugby league luminary to Sale, another moves in the opposite direction this weekend. As rumours continue to surround the departure of one rugby league luminary to Sale, another moves in the opposite direction this weekend. With word from Sale now hinting at an announcement next week that Jason Robinson is to join them from Wigan, Barrie-Jon Mather will re-appear for Castleford at Warrington tomorrow.Mather, who is likely to be reintroduced to league via the substitutes' bench, will be at Cas until they are knocked out of the play-offs, despite reports that he is earmarked for another rugby union club.Castleford could have Lee Harland, Brad Davis and Aaron Raper back, while the thin Warrington squad is bolstered, in the absence of the injured Ian Sibbit and the suspended Toa Kohe-Love, by three potential debutants in Paul Noone, Chris Campbell and David Alstead.Robinson plays for Wigan at Huddersfield-Sheffield, as does Gary Connolly, back after a fractured thumb.

Lee Gilmour drops to the bench and there is still no place for Tony Smith and Tony Mestrov, who both played in the Alliance team this week.The last-placed Giants are without Matt Crowther for the six weeks, but the Frenchman, Yacine Dekkiche, dropped for some dodgy defence last week, is recalled after an outstanding response in the reserves.Salford, boosted by their win over Warrington last week, go to leaders St Helens and are likely to still be without key men in Martin Offiah and Darren Brown. Saints have had plenty of injury problems of their own, but the versatile Paul Wellens has a 50-50 chance of returning. If he does, he is likely to fill in at hooker, thus allowing Tommy Martyn to do damage in wider positions, rather than being tied down at dummy-half.Wakefield Trinity, who made a cheeky and allegedly illegal move for Robinson, have one of their big signings returning and another missing against Hull. Steve McNamara is injured, but Bobbie Goulding, with whom the Wakefield coach, Andy Kelly, has denied having a row, will be on the bench after recovering from a shoulder problem. Hull could have their winger and goal-kicker, Ian Herron, back, but their captain, Tony Grimaldi, is doubtful.. As the crow flies, the distance separating the County Ground in Exeter from Le Stade des Sept Deniers in downtown Toulouse is approximately 675 miles.