Sligo to confirm Reid as manager

Sligo Rovers are expected to confirm Nicky Reid as their new manager at a meeting this evening. The club are likely to formally offer the job to the 36 year-old who returned home earlier this week in order to discuss the possibility of taking over with his family.

Rovers had originally brought the former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder in as a player but a spokesman for the club said yesterday that "we were immediately struck by the respect he commanded on the training pitch, he has all of his coaching badges and so he seemed to be an ideal choice."

If Reid agrees to accept the offer of a two year deal with the club then he will take over the reins straight away as the Showgrounds club attempt to build up a squad capable of taking them through the forthcoming season.

South African striker Falcon Rose may be the club's first signing with the player, who was due to arrive in Sligo last night, travelling to Sligo for a trial after a knee injury which has required surgery threatened to keep Marcus Hallows out for the early part of the new season.

St Patrick's Athletic, meanwhile, have confirmed the signing of centre half Stephen McGuinness from Home Farm and hope to tie up goalkeeper Trevor Wood's move to the Inchicore club when he arrives back in Dublin on Monday.

The signing by manager Pat Dolan of McGuinness has in part been prompted by the failure of earlier capture Brendan Plaice to show up for preseason training.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson faces a defensive rethink, after hearing that Brazilian international Celio Silva has had his British work permit application refused by the British government.The Department of Employment have effectively wiped out Ferguson's plan A at the back, as he sought to bring in reinforcements for the ageing Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin. Ferguson has now accepted he must give up on £3.5 million Silva.