Leicester land Levein: Craig Levein was last night confirmed as the new Leicester City manager. The 40-year-old left Scottish Premier League side Hearts earlier yesterday where he established a reputation as one of Scotland's top young coaches.
Levein was Leicester officials' first choice to succeed Micky Adams, who quit earlier this month.
Wales to talk to Rush
The Football Association of Wales has asked Chester City for permission to speak to Ian Rush about the vacant manager's job with Wales, but this is a courtesy rather than a sign that the former Liverpool player is to be offered the job.
The FAW have drawn up a shortlist and Rush is clearly on it but John Toshack, Brian Flynn and Gerard Houllier remain under consideration.
Sainsbury the provider
Sebastian Sainsbury insisted yesterday he would provide proof of the funding required to proceed with his takeover bid for Leeds. He said he would fulfil the demands of the club's board by Monday, enabling both parties to take negotiations for the £25 million deal to the next stage.
Meanwhile, David Healy has completed his move to Elland Road from Preston. West Ham manager Alan Pardew has, however, pulled the plug on Don Hutchison's loan move to Leeds.
City stock still falling
Manchester City insist they are not panicking despite revealing debts in excess of £62 million yesterday.
City lost another £16.8 million last season, mainly thanks to the on-going cost of player purchases, which wiped out an operating profit of £4 million.
While admitting the club needed to reduce their debt, chief executive Alistair Mackintosh insisted measures were in place to do that.
He also pointed to a 26 per cent increase in turnover to £61.9 million - despite a £3.6 million drop in Premiership merit payments - and a reduced wage to turnover ratio of 61 per cent in line with Deloitte and Touche's estimates for long-term stability, as evidence they are working.
"Our turnover has increased substantially, while the wage ratio has gone down," he said. "Short-term debt has also decreased, so those are three indicators which suggest we are working along the right lines.
"People should also remember that we have spent £20 million upgrading the stadium and developing the Reebok City complex, both of which will benefit the club for years to come.
"We are looking at trying to bring in new investment but there is no reason to worry about the financial position of the club."
Dein queries UEFA plan
Dein queries UEFA plan Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has cast doubts over proposed plans to force Europe's top clubs to include up to eight "home-grown" players in their squads.
UEFA are reportedly planning to bring in a new rule whereby clubs must bring through a set number of players from their youth ranks.
However, Dein said: "In principle, it sounds okay, but in the end it will become a legal issue. We've got to be very careful we don't constrain ourselves and then find out we are breaking the law."
It is believed "home-grown" players would not be judged on nationality but rather on where they had developed at academy level, a scheme which Dein feels would also lead to confusion.
He added: "What do you call a home-grown player? We bring in boys from all over the world, like you saw the other day when we played Manchester City.
"We had Arturo Lupoli in at the age of 17 and Francesc Fabregas, also at 17. Arturo came from Parma in Italy while Francesc came from Barcelona, so do you say they are home-grown?"
In brief . . .
Steven Gerrard has confirmed he expects to be back in Liverpool's first team for their final two Champions League group phase clashes . . . Bolton should find out from a heart specialist over the weekend the extent of the midfielder Khalilou Fadiga's health problems after he collapsing on the pitch during the warm-up for Wednesday's League Cup tie with Tottenham . . . Newcastle's manager Graeme Souness re-iterated yesterday his desire to see the 34-year-old Alan Shearer play on beyond this season . . . Nottingham Forest will be allowed continue their League Cup run despite including the cup-tied Brian Cash in their squad against Doncaster on Tuesday night as he was an unused substitute in their 2-0 victory . . . Wigan manager Paul Jewell has revealed he made an audacious bid to bring Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker to the JJB Stadium on loan . . . Former Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, who went to England as a German prisoner of war, will be presented with an OBE next Monday along with the Italian-born former Chelsea playmaker Gianfranco Zola.
