HOROLOGIST and showman supreme Russell Grant was one of my great friends in a previous life.

A neighbour, too in Staines, Middlesex. Every New Year he would forecast the sporting year ahead in my newspaper and it was super stuff and lots of fun.

But you don’t need Russell’s star-gazing – or Mystic Meg for that matter – on this Super Sunday to work out the destiny of the Barclays Premier League. It is a forgone conclusion that Roberto Mancini’s galacticos will win English football’s most prestigious prize. City’s first in 44 years.

No. The bigger drama lies in the qualification for Champions League places and who finishes third and fourth.

Forget all the nonsense about Chelsea grabbing fourth spot if they win Champions League.

They haven’t got a hope in hell of beating Bayern Munich in Munich. They are out of it. Europa League. Thursdays. Channel 5, Mr Abramovich. How the mighty are fallen. Ha ha!

And it seems everyone here in Dorset is looking down a crystal ball for Sunday.

Guy Preston of Tillycombe on Portland is adamant that he can see into the future. “I predict Arsenal will come-a-cropper at West Brom. Spurs will beat Fulham and I can just see Cisse and Newcastle nicking the result at Everton.

“Which means, of course, that Arsenal will fail to qualify for Champions League for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s 16 years.

“They have got out of jail so many times of late because of other team’s results that their luck is bound to run out this Sunday.

“They leak goals all over the place and without Robin van Persie they are nothing.”

Thanks for that, Guy. You know how to hurt! I haven’t slept since we had that pint at The George in Reforne.

Even Fergie doesn’t escape the wrath. Namely from the very charming and amiable Janice, a sales assistant at Combens in Easton and a die-hard Red.

“My three sons and I all agree that it is time Fergie called it a day. City didn’t win the title – United threw it away. Eight points clear. Ridiculous.

“The club won’t make the decision because he is too powerful. But my family say he should do the honourable thing and resign. He has lost the magic touch. Especally with Guardiola and perhaps Mourinho on the market.” Wow, Janice. Powerful stuff.

Most pertinent, perhaps, is the prediction of Paul whose missus owns the Weymouth hotel chain of The Rex, Fairhaven and Crown.

“The writing is on the wall for United. And everybody else for that matter. City won’t stop here. Next stage is the Champions League and total domination of the English game.

Forget about UEFA Fair Play rules. They will find a way round it and throw all the money in the world to achieve their ambitions. Fergie’s reign is over and he should go.”

So with City thumping QPR (alleged) it leaves Bolton needing a win at Stoke (difficult) to escape the dreaded drop in the other big talking point.

“They’ll do it,” says Bolton-born painter Pete here in Weymouth. “Owen Coyle deserves it. He is one of soccer’s nice guys.”

So folks, who needs Jeff Stelling and his team? It would appear everything is sorted and decided for this Super Sunday. Except for one dissenting voice.

“I think QPR will win, ’cos I like their colours,” says Olly.

I should hasten to add that Olly is six-years-old and is the son of the lovely Tracey who runs Gough’s Gallery with her mum Lyn in St Alban Street.

Well... stranger things have happened. Super Sunday. Bring it on.