Martin O'Neill's move to Celtic from Leicester City appeared to have hit a hitch yesterday afternoon.

O'Neill had indicated yesterday morning that he had decided to join the Parkhead club and was due to inform Leicester chairman John Elsom of that decision.

But O'Neill was believed to have held talks at Filbert Street with Elsom yesterday afternoon.

That could be a last-ditch bid by Leicester to persuade O'Neill to have a change of heart.

Celtic were refusing to confirm O'Neill's imminent arrival as their successor to John Barnes.

The former Northern Ireland international indicated yesterday morning that he had found the challenge of trying to help Celtic again become a major power in Scotland impossible to turn down.

O'Neill has spent the last 48 hours agonising over his decision after a meeting on Sunday evening with Elsom, financial director Steve Kind and football secretary Andrew Neville.

Even on Monday sources close to Filbert Street were insisting it was 50-50 as to whether O'Neill would join Celtic and try to overturn the dominance of Rangers.

O'Neill had been blocked by Elsom from talking to Leeds when they wanted him as George Graham's successor 18 months ago. But he learnt from that experience and had a clause in his next contract which gave him the right to talk to any interested clubs in the close season.

O'Neill still has two years to run of his current deal. Leicester will demand around £1 million in compensation for the remainder of his contract if the move to Parkhead is confirmed.

Manchester United have confirmed that Fabien Barthez, the French international goalkeeper, had arrived in the city to discuss a move from Monaco, casting doubt on the future of Australian Mark Bosnich.

Media reports said Barthez was set to become the world's most expensive goalkeeper in a longterm deal costing United around £10 million. Barthez, providing he passes a medical and agrees terms, stands to earn around £50,000 a week and the move is expected to be confirmed by this evening.

Brian Kidd is relishing a fresh challenge after agreeing to become Leeds United's director of youth development.

Kidd, who has been recharging his batteries since parting company with Blackburn in the autumn, told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I'm delighted to be taking up such an exciting challenge."

Meanwhile, Kosovo Albanians living in Belgium have filed a suit with the Belgian authorities to ban Yugoslavia from taking part in the Euro 2000 finals in June.

Lawyers for the Albanians say the suit is based on European Union sanctions taken against Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic in the wake of last year's Kosovo conflict.

The first of the sanctions forbids EU countries from granting visas to any person representing the Milosevic government. The second sanction forbids EU countries from having any financial dealings with Yugoslavia while Milosevic remains in power.