TREVOR FRANCIS has completed his return to Birmingham 17 years after leaving the club as the country's first £1 million player. Francis, who left St Andrews in 1979 to join Nottingham Forest, has taken over as manager from Barry Fry, who was sacked last Tuesday, Francis said. It is great to be back at Birmingham because I had some wonderful years here in the 1970s. They were unique moments and, while fans from my old clubs may say that my best days were at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, I know where they were at Birmingham.

Francis, who also had a spell in charge at Queens Park Rangers, won 52 England caps in a distinguished playing career that also saw him play for Sampdoria. He was sacked last summer by Wednesday and has since been working with Sky TV.

Meanwhile, Ruud Gullit distanced himself from Chelsea's financial infighting problems yesterday, insisting that it will not affect his plans as the club's new player boss.

The situation was further complicated yesterday when chairman Ken Bates tore up an agreement which would have made chief benefactor Matthew Harding vice chairman and given the multimillionaire overall responsibility for playing affairs.

Gullit has already begun research for overseas players and is said to have contacted Juventus captain Gianluca Vialli.