Burns for Newcastle

TOMMY BURNS yesterday turned down the Reading manager's job in favour of joining the backroom staff at Newcastle United and explained it was an offer he could not refuse.

The 40-year-old former Celtic boss seemed set for Elm Park and the English first division after apparently being offered a lucrative financial package. But his mind was thrown into turmoil after an approach from Newcastle boss Kenny Dalglish, a former colleague of his at Celtic Park.

Burns said: "It is a magnificent learning opportunity for me in joining Newcastle. That's the reason I declined to go to Reading."

Burns was offered the job of youth development officer by Parkhead chief executive Fergus McCann when he was sacked two months ago, but rejected the offer.

Wolves assistant manager Colin Lee now becomes a firm favourite for the Reading job and could have former Southampton manager Dave Merrington as his assistant.

Meanwhile, Leeds manager George Graham yesterday vowed to bring the glory days back to Elland Road and he says he will do it the Don Revie way.

Revie's successful Leeds sides of the 1960s and 1970s contained a handful of players who had come through the ranks at Leeds, alongside players that Revie himself brought to the club.

And after parading new signings Alf-Inge Haaland and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Graham said he intended to do the same.

Graham said he had worked long and hard in his bid to buy players he felt would improve his side, who finished 11th in the Premiership last season.

Surinam-born Hesselbaink, who has cost Leeds £2 million, scored 27 league goals for Portuguese side Boavista last season, one fewer than the entire Leeds team. Utility player Haaland, 24, has signed from relegated Nottingham Forest for a fee yet to be decided by a tribunal. Forest have slapped a £4 million price tag on him, but Graham is offering just £500,000.

Manchester United have denied a claim from Bayern Munich that they have given German international Markus Babbel until Monday to decide whether to accept an offer to join them.

But United's club solicitor, Maurice Watkins, rejected Bayern's claim, saying: "That is not correct. We have not imposed any time limit."

The 24-year-old defender turned down United's first offer, which would have given him around £1 million a year and his club £5 million.