Neslines

Bruce Rioch claimed Norwich City lacked the resources to match his ambition as he parted company with the first division club yesterday after less than two years in charge. The former Bolton and Arsenal manager took over at Carrow Road in June 1998 and although he guided the Canaries to ninth place last season, they have failed to mount a serious bid for promotion this term, winning just once in the last 11 games.

Former Northern Ireland manager Bryan Hamilton, the club's director of football, has been put in charge of first-team matters until the end of the season, beginning with the East Anglian derby at Ipswich on Sunday.

Mark Hughes is expected to be unveiled as the latest addition to Everton's `golden oldies' today, and his debut could follow 24 hours later against Coventry. The 36-year-old Wales manager and Southampton striker travelled to Merseyside for talks and a medical yesterday. Everton don't expect any problems and the formalities should be completed later today.

Rangers have signed a pre-contract agreement with Sunderland's Scottish international winger Allan Johnston. The 26-year-old has not played for Peter Reid's team this season because of a contract dispute with the club. He has had a loan spell at Birmingham and is currently with FA Cup semi-finalists Bolton.

Nicolas Anelka has been suspended without pay for 45 days by Real Madrid after missing three days' training. The former Arsenal striker, who cost Real a club record £23 million when he left Highbury last summer, will lose around £200,000 in wages during the suspension. Anelka, 20, trained alone behind closed doors yesterday for the first time in four days.

Kanu will this week finally put pen to paper on the contract which will catapult him among the top earners at Arsenal. The Nigerian international agreed the outline of the deal with Arsene Wenger before the African Nations' Cup and has ironed out the details since his return. The new contract is expected to earn him £25,000 a week.

Blackburn were staying tightlipped yesterday on claims that Graeme Souness is in line to become the next manager of Rovers. Souness, the former Liverpool, Rangers and Southampton manager, has previously admitted to being interested in the job at Ewood Park.