WATFORD, England – Several English Premiership clubs have joined the race to sign top Jamaican striker Marlon King after his Ł5million transfer to Fulham fell through earlier this week.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd confirmed that Wigan Athletic was one the clubs in the hunt. Sunderland, Bolton and Middlesbrough are also thought to have an interest in the 27-year old marksman.

“We’ve had further contact from Fulham and interest from two other Premier League clubs enquiring about the situation,” Boothroyd told the Watford Observer.

King’s move to Watford was scuppered when he reportedly failed a medical, a charge the player denied.

World 100 meters record-holder Asafa Powell is set to open his season at next Saturday’s Grace Jackson-Queen’s Invitational meet at the National Stadium in Jamaica.

Bruce James, president and general manager of Maximizing Velocity & Power Track Club, with whom Powell trains, confirmed the track star’s appearance for the meet.

Powell, who ran lowered his World record to 9.74 seconds in Rieti, Italy, last September to erase his previous World mark of 9.77 secs, will once again open his season over 400 meters.

At a meet last week, Powell ran a personal best 47.46 secs which his coach Stephen Francis, at the time, indicated was geared towards strength and endurance.

Sherone Simpson, the fastest female sprinter in the World two seasons ago, is down to open her season over the same distance at the meet.

Heat Center Alonzo Mourning said he’s not retired and isn't thinking right now about retirement. He even left the door open a slight bit for a possible return.

Mourning who sustained what is considered to be a career-ending injury Dec. 19, tearing the patella tendon and quadriceps tendon in his right leg, is at least holding out hopes of returning for a 16th season.

"I'm happy and I'm focused right now on my recovery and I really haven't thought too much about basketball," he said. "He said, his focus right now is on being able to walk and get strength back again.

He continued to say, "(When) I get over that hurdle, then I'm going to be able to make a decision whether or not I'm going to be able to play ball again."

With the Heat stumbling and bumbling this season, the question now becomes how much longer President/coach Pat Riley will remain at the helm in both positions for the Miami Heat organization. Riley, who has a penchant of cutting and running when the chips are low, is now under the microscope.

In fact, the embattled executive spent Wednesday's pre-game at Milwaukee fending off questions about a published report that said he's looking to resign as coach at season's end.

Riley was nicely set up for a dynasty run with the Heat with a contract to coach through the 2009-10 season, coinciding with the end of Shaquille O'Neal's contract and Dwyane Wade's player option becoming available. But with ailments and lack of cohesion plaguing his ball club, which is now sitting in the basement of the Easter Conference, speculations are now swirling as to whether the unflappable coach will be coaching much longer. After all it has always been said that Riley is very guarded about his coaching record and stacking up losses is just not an option for him.

With regards to his current tenure, Riley told The Palm Beach Post he'd give himself "a big fat 'F' " for his job as an executive during the past off-season. He said his coaching hasn't been any better. "I think probably my coaching decisions have been worse than my personnel decisions, because they happen all the time every night, 100 games a year," Riley said.

To that end, he said he didn't know how much longer he'd continue to coach (a not so subtle hint). When pressed further on the issue he quipped, "Don't ask me that question"...Just let things work (their) way out."

The Riley watch is on.