Dunne escapes City sacking

Manchester City have decided not to sack Richard Dunne after the Republic of Ireland defender agreed to carry out a "specialist…

Manchester City have decided not to sack Richard Dunne after the Republic of Ireland defender agreed to carry out a "specialist training programme". Dunne's future at the club was on the line after he turned up for training in a dishevelled state on Friday.

City have imposed the maximum fine of two weeks' wages on the 22-year-old but, after a meeting yesterday morning between the manager Kevin Keegan, Dunne, the directors John Wardle and Dennis Tueart and the chief executive of the players' union (PFA), Gordon Taylor, the club said, "a decision has been taken not to terminate Richard Dunne's contract".

City added: "Richard Dunne has accepted the seriousness of his situation having had similar disciplinary problems in the past."

Arsenal, fresh from their European success, were buoyed on the domestic front yesterday when Thierry Henry escaped a possible ban by the English FA. The FA announced that "no action will be taken" against the French striker "following an alleged use of the elbow during the Charlton v Arsenal game on Saturday".

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The incident involving Henry and Charlton's midfielder John Robinson was not seen by the referee Steve Dunn but was captured by television.

Dennis Wise is to put the troubled times at Leicester behind him and find calmer waters at another club.

Former England international Wise was effectively sacked by the First Division outfit after they yesterday won an appeal to the Football League to terminate the midfielder's contract following an incident involving Callum Davidson during the club's pre-season tour of Finland.

Another player on the move is Tottenham's midfielder Tim Sherwood, who will complete his £250,000 move to Portsmouth by the end of next week.