Northern border-crossing finally agreed

Northern Ireland international Neil Lennon is hoping to be training with his new Celtic team-mates today in Glasgow. The midfielder claims only a medical stands between him and his near £6 million dream move to Parkhead.

"I'm hoping the contract will be four and a half years," said the 29-year-old yesterday. Lennon is fulfiling a childhood dream playing for Celtic. Asked how long he had wanted to play for Celtic, he said: "Since I was a kid.

"I want to thank the Leicester fans for four and a half great years and I have left the club in the best position it has been in for a long time.

"I want to thank them for everything they did for me down there," added Lennon, who also admitted he is delighted to be teaming up again with former Leicester boss Martin O'Neill.

Earlier Taylor claimed Lennon has a major pay cut to join Celtic. Lennon was one of Leicester's highest earners, on around £30,000 sterling a week.

Villa return delights Staunton

Celtic and Rangers will continue their pursuit of a possible European League when they meet with UEFA's executive committee in Geneva next week.

The Old Firm duo will join clubs such as AIK Athens, Brondby, Bruges, Feyenoord, PSV, Anderlecht and Benfica in urging the European governing body to sanction a new competition.

Steve Staunton yesterday declared himself "absolutely delighted" to be back at Villa Park following his return from Liverpool on a two and a half year contract.

The 31-year-old defender, who has won 86 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has taken a 50 per cent wage cut as part of his free-transfer deal.

Aston Villa manager John Gregory is renewing his bid to sign Celta Vigo striker Benni McCarthy now the player has told the Spanish club he wants to leave.

Gregory had an £8 million bid for McCarthy rejected a fortnight ago when Celta were holding out for a £12 million fee for the South African international.

But McCarthy's agent Rob Moore revealed that Celta were now likely to accept a bid below £10 million after the striker voiced his discontent - and his desire to play for Villa.

UEFA delay decision on Gunners disciplinary probe

By Bill Pierce

The FAI's directors will meet again in Dublin this afternoon when both Eircom Park and the dispute over a payment of £30,000 by the association to Umbro will be on the agenda.

Chief Executive Bernard O'Byrne is again expected to come under pressure over his role in the Umbro transaction, but opponents of the stadium development will probably seek to defer any discussion relating to the scheme.

They are also unlikely to call for a review of the costs that have been initiated by the directors of Centime Limited, the company used by the FAI to control the development, until the information that they have been promised is handed over.

That is scheduled to happen by Monday when the full National Council of the association will meet prior to the Harp FAI Cup draw.

Football is set to receive a huge boost in its battle to retain the transfer system.

It is understood that the 15 heads of state at the European Union summit, which started in Nice yesterday, will make a declaration noting the difference between sport and other areas on employment.

Any statement is not likely to be made until the conclusion of the summit tomorrow.

European football bosses will wait until next Thursday before deciding whether disciplinary action will be taken following a stormy finale to Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Highbury.

There have been suggestions that Arsenal's French midfielder Gilles Grimandi could face a ban after bust-ups with Bayern's Hasan Salihamidzic and Jens Jeremies.

But video evidence, which is available to UEFA, appears to show the German international is more culpable.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have confirmed former Chelsea coach and Wales international goalkeeper Eddie Niedzwiecki as their new reserve-team manager for the rest of the season.

Niedzwiecki - who left Chelsea last week after rejecting an offer of a "redefined" role in manager Claudio Ranieri's coaching set-up - succeeds George Armstrong who died last month.

Twenty minutes earlier, Grimandi was booked after leaning into Jeremies with an elbow and crashing to the ground as the pair became disentangled.

He was booked for diving, but Italian referee Stefano Braschi did not see the kick in the back of the leg Jeremies gave the Arsenal player, which is clear from ITV's coverage.

Grimandi returned to action on Tuesday night from a three-match European ban he picked up after video film showed his flailing-arm attack on Diego Simeone which left the Lazio midfielder with a cut eye in Rome in October.

The Frenchman was at the centre of more controversy when he confronted Salihamidzic in stormy scenes after the final whistle.

But the Bosnian international said: "It was nothing serious. He did bump into me, but it is forgotten now."

Feelings were running high at the end of the night and Arsenal captain Tony Adams was seen pushing away several Bayern players who tried to shake his hand.

Manchester City are weighing up a move for Bordeaux's French international Lilian Laslandes. City have been watching Laslandes, who helped shoot Bordeaux to the French title in 1999.

Manager Joe Royle saw the striker score twice in Bordeaux's UEFA Cup victory over Celtic at Parkhead last month. Although City are interested, they have stressed that no formal bid has been made for the 29-year-old.

United 14-1 for treble

Manchester United have put the bookmakers on red alert after continuing their march towards the Treble. Bookies William Hill have dropped the odds to just 14-1 on United repeating their 1999 Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup victories.

One punter, who staked £1,500 on United at 50-1 at the start of the season, is on course to scoop £75,000. United are now 1-12 to win the Premiership alone.