Theatre impresario Bill Kenwright yesterday completed the Stg£20 million buy-out of Peter Johnson's 68 per cent holding at Everton and brought to an end a 14-month takeover saga that has left the club financially stagnant.
On a day when Aston Villa sold a 9.9 per cent interest to media company NTL and were handed a £26 million loan, Kenwright left the door open for a share issue among fans and the possible involvement of a broadcast giant in Everton's future.
The English FA have decided not to bring charges against Sol Campbell and Colin Calderwood over allegations of a tunnel incident with a security guard after a match between Derby and Tottenham last season.
The evidence has been reviewed by the FA but there will be no further proceedings against Campbell or Calderwood, now an Aston Villa player.
Southampton striker David Hirst has been forced to retire from the game after losing his long-running battle back from injury.
He last started a game 18 months ago against Tottenham and has hung up his boots on medical advice after just 30 games for Southampton. Hirst (32) never got over a freak training accident in June 1998 when he tripped over a stone while out jogging. The forward - who played three full games for England, scoring one goal - started his career with Barnsley 15 years ago. He left Oakwell for Sheffield Wednesday and made a major impact, scoring 106 goals in 12 seasons.
Newcastle misfit Silvio Maric is banking on a loan move back to Croatia Zagreb. The Croatian arrived from Zagreb in a £3.5million deal in March 1998 but wants to return.
