Seaman hands his gloves on to James

SOCCER/English FA Cup third round replays: On the day David Seaman finally announced his retirement Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan turned to the England goalkeeper David James - Seaman's successor at international level - to help him out of the "worst spell" of his managerial career.

Earlier Keegan had admitted for the first time that being sacked had become a realistic possibility.

City are close to finalising a deal with West Ham for James as Seaman has accepted he is too prone to injuries. The 40-year-old, who won 75 England caps, injured a shoulder at Portsmouth on Saturday and was expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.

"After deciding to retire it was a pleasure to recommend David James," Seaman said last night. "I know the position is in safe hands. It has become clear to me that this type of shoulder injury will not quickly disappear and, after much discussion with my family and those in the game whose views I respect, I think now would be a good time to hang up my boots."

Keegan first tried to sign James (33) last summer and has returned with an offer believed to be an initial £1.5 million. The east London club's financial situation means they are willing to do business. If he passes a medical today, James will make his debut at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

The depth of City's goalkeeping problems are such that the 20-year-old Kevin Ellegaard plays at Leicester this evening in their FA Cup third-round replay, with Kasper Schmeichel (17) on the bench.

Keegan still has wider concerns, however. His team have not won in 14 matches, a wretched sequence stretching back to November 1st, and he admits that defeat this evening would leave him in "serious trouble".

Despite benefiting from a strong relationship with his chairman John Wardle, Keegan is acutely aware of the board's intense frustration to have gone out of the UEFA Cup, the League Cup and fallen to within three points of the relegation zone.

Keegan has been further undermined by stories of dressing-room rifts and accusations by the midfielder Eyal Berkovic, whom he sold to Portsmouth last week, that he was a "big baby" who had lost the support of his players and "deserved the sack".

"I'm not a fool and I know that if this run carries on much longer then I'm in serious trouble," said Keegan. "I'd like to think I have common sense and, if I was looking at another Premiership manager who had gone 14 games without a win, I'd be saying, 'Christ, he needs a result'. The fact is that we are in the middle of a crisis."

Hiring the England goalkeeper is an attempt to rectify that situation.

"David James is a tremendous acquisition," he added. "We have been looking to strengthen the goalkeeping position and to secure the England number one is terrific news."

Keegan also confirmed the Icelandic keeper Arni Gautur Arason had joined the club on trial. Although the 28-year-old former Rosenborg player is not deemed fit enough just yet, if he impresses over the next fortnight he is likely to be offered a deal until the end of the season.

Meanwhile Chelsea, who face Watford in a third round replay at Stamford Bridge tonight, have not given up hope of signing Scott Parker despite being told by Charlton the midfielder was "not for sale".

Yesterday they had an offer of £7 million for the England international rejected.

Charlton are keen to hold on to Parker, whose outstanding displays have helped to propel the club to fourth place in the Premiership, but are likely to find an offer of closer to £12 million hard to turn down.

Chelsea are not expected to meet that figure but are ready to test Charlton's resolve with an improved offer and hope a compromise can be reached.

Meanwhile, Peter Kenyon will start work as Chelsea's chief executive next month after a compromise was reached with Manchester United, where he had held a similar position.

Guardian Service