Leeds United and Republic of Ireland defender Ian Harte yesterday pleaded his innocence after recently being charged with misconduct by the English Football Association following an alleged stamp on Tottenham defender Chris Perry.

"I didn't mean to do it. It obviously looks bad, but I jumped in the air and tried to jump over him and ended up coming down on him."

Wembley officials have been warned that planning permission for the new stadium could be rejected unless a financial commitment is given to improving infrastructure such as roads and railway stations to try to ease the chronic congestion that has blighted the venue on match days.

Dan Petrescu has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Chelsea until the end of his career and insisted: "The Premiership is the place to be." The popular Romanian defender also looked to the future and sent a message to Gianluca Vialli, telling his Chelsea boss: "I want your job one day!"

Scotland international Colin Hendry's switch to Coventry was yesterday put on hold until today - but the player remains on course to relaunch his career at Highfield Road. Travel problems meant Hendry had to call off the formal announcement of his transfer from Rangers which should now be concluded today.