SOCCER/DIGEST:David Dein's hopes of returning to Arsenal were dealt a blow last night when Alisher Usmanov said he would put the club's wishes first, reports Matt Scott.

Dein, Arsenal's former vice-chairman, was made non-executive chairman of Usmanov's investment company, Red & White Holdings, but he is described by club sources as "persona non grata" and Usmanov appears to have taken that message on board.

Usmanov's co-investor, Farhad Moshiri, and Arsenal's managing director, Keith Edelman, spoke yesterday and the result apparently is that Dein may be sidelined. "I am grateful to David Dein that he sold his shares to me and not someone else," said Usmanov.