Robson's return: Bryan Robson returned to West Brom yesterday as the club's new manager and claimed: "It is great to be back". The former England captain has signed a 12-month rolling contract at the Hawthorns after succeeding Gary Megson.
Former Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday defender Nigel Pearson has been appointed assistant manager after leaving his post as England Under-20 coach.
Robson, who won 90 England caps including 65 as captain, began his playing career with Albion and scored 46 goals in 249 games before joining Manchester United for £1.5 million in 1981. Pearson was Middlesbrough captain during Robson's reign at the Riverside Stadium.
Mutu's still in demand
Adrian Mutu has claimed offers are already pouring in from England and Italy as he looks to find a new club after being dismissed by Chelsea for taking cocaine. Mutu has also apologised for his misdemeanour, blaming his lapse on feeling sad and lonely, and says he will take drug tests voluntarily.
"I could have refused to take the initial drugs test, but I didn't because somehow I wanted to take responsibility," said Mutu. "The FA asked for a (drug) test once a month but I asked for weekly tests to go on for two years after my ban expires."
Fowler in the clear
Robbie Fowler will not face disciplinary action from the English FA over his ill-advised gestures towards Manchester United supporters at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Manchester City striker made a variety of hand signals to fans as he was warming up during the goalless draw with the Red Devils
No Sutton impact
Celtic striker Chris Sutton is out of tonight's Scottish League Cup quarter-final showdown with Rangers (Live TG4, kick-off: 7.45 p.m.) - the English striker is still out with a chest-shoulder injury.
Stilian Petrov aggravated a shoulder problem in the weekend win over Kilmarnock and Bobo Balde is fighting to shake off a similar injury.
Rangers welcome back Dado Prso and Zura Khizanishvili from injury. Georgia defender Khizanishvili also returns after a back problem.
Rangers chairman David Murray has announced the club's share issue, intended to solve the club's money worries, will begin today.
The shares, which number more than 57 million at £1 each, will be traded on the OFEX exchange.
Peace summit delayed
The English FA are set to wait until after the conclusion of any disciplinary action against Arsene Wenger before trying to broker a peace summit between Arsenal and Manchester United.
FA chairman Geoff Thompson is writing to both clubs to invite them, as well as the Premier League, to a clear-the-air meeting before they face each other again at Highbury next February.
Meanwhile, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has given Arsene Wenger licence to keep speaking his mind. "Wenger is a very intelligent man and he says exactly what he thinks. I've not said to him 'stop insulting Ferguson' and I've no intention of doing so.
Adams quits
Wycombe are looking for a new manager after former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams quit his post yesterday for "personal reasons". Adams took charge of Wanderers in November last year, and they suffered relegation to League Two in his first year as manager at the Causeway Stadium. The club are currently 17th in League Two.
Euro 2008 on track
Preparations for the 2008 European championship are back on track, according to co-hosts the Swiss football association. The Swiss and UEFA held a joint media conference yesterday, in which they appeared to have resolved their differences, most notably the current lack of a stadium for Zurich.
The declaration came less than six weeks after the publication of a leaked letter from UEFA warning the Swiss and their Austrian co-hosts that they might lose the tournament if preparations were not speeded up. The Swiss FA confirmed that it has been looking at another potential stadium in the event that no Zurich stadium can be available in time.
In brief. . .
The Anglo-American consortium bidding to take control of Leeds are poised to conclude a £25 million deal. Manchester United will visit Beijing for the first time as part of next summer's Far East tour. Khalilou Fadiga will return to training with Bolton this week after having an automatic defibrillator implanted to try and correct his heart problems. Chelsea defender John Terry has signed a revised five-year contract to stay with the Premier League leaders until 2009.
