NEWSLINES: Manchester United full back Denis Irwin, 36 and out of contract in the summer, intends to play for another season, although he feels it will probably be elsewhere.

"I will play on for another 12 months, definitely," he said yesterday. "But I don't know whether it will be at United. The manager will no doubt go out and buy defenders in the summer, but I feel sharp enough if he still wanted me."

• Micky Adams will become Leicester City's manager in the summer, a year ahead of schedule. Adams was appointed assistant, with the promise of promotion, on the day Dave Bassett got the manager's job in October. Leicester are expected to confirm his promotion this month.

Adams was expected to succeed Bassett in 15 months' time but with Leicester seemingly doomed for the first division, it will be brought forward with Bassett becoming director of football - if he wants to.