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YOU MUST BE KIDDING
Manchester United have told crisis club Everton: You can forget about Brian Kidd. Following Martin O'Neill's decision to stay at Leicester, speculation has grown that Everton were going to turn to Old Trafford Number Two Kidd as the latest target to possibly replace Howard Kendall.
But United chairman Martin Edwards said: "The fact that Brian Kidd has only just signed a new four-year contract should say everything. He has made his future position clear. We would rebuff any approach from Everton for him, and of course they would have to come through me first."
Kidd was an Everton player in the late 1970s and had been sounded out as a possible manager by one of the consortiums who have been trying to take over Manchester City. But his decision to commit himself to United for a further four years, regardless of whether Alex Ferguson eventually steps away from the day-to-day running of the first team, clearly puts him out of Everton's reach.
Goodison Park chairman Peter Johnson now has to decide who to turn to next. Number one target O'Neill is a non-starter, Kidd is out of reach, furious Everton fans are disgusted with the treatment of Kendall and as 365 told you yesterday - season ticket sales are down by around 20%.
Everton did get some good news though, when Leicester decided not to complain to the Premier League or the FA over claims that the Merseysiders illegally sounded out O'Neill over the possibility of his replacing Kendall. A Foxes spokesman explained they wanted to concentrate on preparing for the new season after O'Neill agreed to stay at Filbert Street: ''We are not reporting Everton for any illegal approach to Martin O'Neill and we're just looking forward to next season.'' Neither the Premier League nor the FA will act without a complaint from Leicester, so the Toffees are off the hook.
COLLYMORE GIVEN FINAL WARNING
Stan Collymore has been given a last warning to toe the line at Aston Villa, improve his off-pitch behaviour and show the attitude expected of a professional footballer. Should the �7million Midlands misfit fail to do so, he will be sacked, according to manager John Gregory. That was the message hammered out by Gregory yesterday, leaving Collymore, who last week broke up with his girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson after a fit of jealously resulted in him physically attacking the television presenter in a Paris bar full of Scottish fans, in no doubt such episodes are unacceptable.
In addition to the threat of the bullet, the one-time England international, in the middle of a disastrous two-season spell on the field, is believed to have been ordered to begin pre-season a week early and could still be hit with a maximum club fine of two weeks' wages - around �40,000 - over the French fracas. Gregory gave notice of his intention, declaring: "He has to be start behaving like a professional footballer or he will be going back down through the lower divisions."
JONES' MISSION OF MERSEY
Liverpool full back Rob Jones has pledged his future to the club, dismissing claims that Tottenham want to buy him and insisting he wants to earn a new contract with the Merseyside giants. The 26-year-old, who has a year to run on his current deal, said: ''I'm not going anywhere. I've got 12 months left on my contract and I want to play well next season so that I can get another one.''
The former England regular's last campaign was wrecked by injury and he has to compete with Irish international Jason McAteer for a game at right back, but he claimed: ''I'm fighting fit now and I want to be in the team for next season. I've heard about the Spurs thing, but, as far as I'm concerned, it's only speculation.''
CHELSEA LINKED WITH MOLLER
Chelsea are reportedly planning a move to increase their foreign legion with a move for Germany and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Andreas Moller, says The Daily Mail. The 30-year-old, whose penalty put England out of Euro 96, earns around �2m a year with Dortmund, but is said to be keen to leave after a bust-up with coach Michael Meier, who blames him for their disappointing play last season. Moller has been pals with Chelsea player/boss Gianluca Vialli since they were teammates at Juventus. Blues officials have said there is nothing in the reports, however.
RIPLEY YARNS
Southampton manager Dave Jones faces a fight with Middlesbrough's Bryan Robson for out-of-favour Blackburn winger Stuart Ripley. Saints have agreed a fee of �1.5m with Rovers for the 30-year-old, who has twice been capped by England, but Boro - his hometown club where he started as an apprentice and played over 250 games - are also interested.
Jones has been searching for a conventional winger ever since he took control at the Dell a year ago. Andy Williams, a 21-year-old Welsh international, is the only other winger on the club's books and the manager is looking for greater experience. He hopes to be able to talk to Ripley next week and, if all goes well, he might sign before the start of pre-season training.Southampton will make their first signing of the summer next week when Tottenham's David Howells joins the club on a free transfer. The 30-year-old is ready to put pen to paper on a three-year contract when his Spurs agreement ends on June 30. Jones said: ''I am interested in many players and hope to bring in several before the start of the new season.''
JURGEN'S TOTTENHAM THANK YOU
Jurgen Klinsmann has thanked Tottenham for getting him fit enough to lead Germany's World Cup challenge - which many people expect to include a quarter final against England. The 33-year-old came to White Hart Lane on loan from Sampdoria and scored the goals that kept them up and assured him of a place in Berti Vogts' squad.
"There is no doubt about it - Tottenham put me back on course for this World Cup," said Klinsmann, who scored his 44th international goal against the USA on Monday.
"I was struggling with my fitness and people were starting to doubt me. Those few months at Spurs proved vital. I got my fitness back and, most importantly, I started scoring goals again.
"I worked really hard to get to these championships. It's a great feeling to know I'm back in great form. I have proved once more that I am a player who can put defences under pressure and score goals. It's my dream to win a second World Cup."
THIS MEANS WARNOCK!
King of the low-budget managerial miracles Neil Warnock has taken over as First Division Bury's new boss. He happily admits to being the man clubs turn to when they want success on a shoestring, having also been in charge at Scarborough, Huddersfield, Notts County, Plymouth and Oldham. He said: ''It's been like that for some while now. I'm sure that reputation is why Bury came to me in the first place.
''Bury did remarkably last season, just to stay in the First Division. Now it's a big challenge for me to not only maintain that situation but build on it. I have to keep the momentum going.''
Warnock, who had an interview with his hometown club Sheffield United before taking the Bury job and once had the chance to manage Chelsea, added: ''I still have ambitions to manage in the Premiership. But I accept that it would be a near miracle for me to take Bury there. I'd probably end up as manager of England if I did that!"
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DOMESTIC ROUND-UP
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ARSENAL The �3.25m move for Boca Juniors right back-cum-midfielder Nolberto Solano is all but signed says the Independent. Manager Arsene Wenger has only seen the Peruvian on video, but saw enough to want to bring him in as cover for the oft-injured Lee Dixon.
ASTON VILLA Teenage midfielder Fabio Ferraresi is set to join the club on a free transfer from Italian minnows Cesena. The 19-year-old, who helped Cesena win promotion to Serie B last season, is also wanted by a number of top Italian clubs but is keen to play in the Premiership. Villa boss John Gregory said: "We are confident that the lad will be joining us."
BRISTOL CITY City have clinched a bargain-buy that could give them a future star for peanuts. The Division One new boys have paid non-league Slough Town �15,000 for youngster Matthew Stowell, who has signed a two-year deal.
BURNLEY Defender Mark Winstanley is to sign a new two-year deal at Turf Moor after being on week-to-week terms for the last 12 months. The former Bolton Wanderers man forced his way back into the side under Chris Waddle last season, and became a regular towards the end of the campaign.
DERBY Jim Smith wants to bring in Scotland midfielder John Collins from Monaco for �2m if Lee Carsley - subject of a �2.5m bid from Everton - decides to move to Goodison Park, says the Sun. Both players have a year left on their current contracts, but 24-year-old Carsley wants more money from the Rams and Collins, 30, wants to come back to Britain after the World Cup.
MIDDLESBROUGH Bryan Robson is still interested in Everton's unsettled teenage defender Richard Dunne. The Boro boss failed in a bid to bring Dunne to the Riverside a year ago when Everton were chasing striker Fabrizio Ravanelli. But he is still in the hunt for the 18-year-old Irishman, who made just a handful of first-team starts last season, but starred for their FA Youth Cup-winning side.
PETERBOROUGH Defender Andy Edwards may miss the start of the new season, after being told he needs hernia surgery. The 26-year-old will become the 11th Posh player to have the operation in the past year. Manager Barry Fry said: ''It is truly amazing. We'll be making sure the players do all the right stretching and warming up next season.''
READING The home game against York has been moved from Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, to the following Wednesday because it clashed with the Reading Rock festival and Thames Valley Police said they didn't have the manpower to cover both events. The Royals have also decided to play home midweek matches on Wednesdays next season, their traditional Tuesday night clashing with
greyhound racing next door at Smallmead Stadium.
WALSALL The Sadlers are looking for a new youth team coach. Eric McManus, who had spent more than nine years with Walsall, has moved to Pride Park as director of recruitment for Derby County's youth academy. ''It is a slight change of direction for me," said the 47-year-old. "I have enjoyed my time at Walsall, but the Derby job was too good to turn down."
WATFORD Carlisle striker Alan Smart has passed his medical and is expected to sign for the Hornets within days. Watford have also lodged a bid for his fellow Brunton Park forward Nick Wright.
WOLVES Mark McGhee is still keen to bring Republic of Ireland international striker David Connolly to Molineux from Dutch club Feyenoord. A move for the former Watford star fell through last season because Connolly couldn't reach agreement over a severance deal with Feyenoord.
WREXHAM Reading are asking the Football League to switch their opening day home match against Wrexham to an away match at the Racecourse Ground because of delays in the construction of their new �37m Madejski Stadium.
WYCOMBE The club's new mascot will include a tribute to legendary goalscorer Tony Horseman, who netted 525 times in 900 games for Wycombe. 'Bodger' - Horseman's nickname - will be introduced to the crowd at Adams Park before next month's pre-season friendly against Aston Villa and will wear a replica of Horseman's shirt.
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News 9 
