ALAN Sugar, controversial head of the Amstrad computer and video company, may soon find he has more time on his hands to concentrate on his other business interests, primarily the management of Tottenham Hotspur premier league football club where he has a controlling interest.

News emerged this week that Psion, the successful manufacturer of hand held electronic notebooks, is negotiating to buy Amstrad at knot less than 200p a share" valuing the company at £230 million sterling.

Good news for Amstrad shareholders who saw the value of their investment surge 36p to 184p on the announcement. Should a deal be agreed Psion has indicated that Sugar would not join the board.

Psion, with 33 per cent of the global market for mini computers, is primarily interested in the digital phone technology of Amstrad's Dancell mobile phone subsidiary, looking ahead to the time when its can interlink mobile phone functions with its electronic notebooks.