Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest have confirmed plans to appoint Joe Kinnear as the club's new manager within 48 hours.
The curtain had come down on previous incumbent Paul Hart's two-and-a-half-year reign following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Coventry, Forest's 14th successive Division One outing without a victory.
Their winless streak stretches back to the 2-1 victory over Bradford at Valley Parade in October, a result which saw Forest climb from ninth to eighth in the table.
But a woeful run since has seen Forest freefall into the relegation zone where they lie third bottom, six points clear of Bradford and 11 ahead of basement outfit Wimbledon.
New home for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian are to sell their 118-year-old Tynecastle ground and move to Murrayfield Stadium, the home of Scottish rugby, in a groundshare deal from next season.
Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson has proposed the move to help stave off the threat of administration with the Edinburgh club around £17 million in debt.
The club hope to receive between £10 million and £12 million from the sale of their 18,000-capacity Tynecastle home, which is situated close to Murrayfield - with a 67,000 capacity - in Scotland's capital city.
The third way
Irish businessman Des Kelly is being linked with a move to take over struggling English third division club Darlington. The Dubliner is reported to be on the verge of taking control after the departure of controversial former chairman George Reynolds.
There is speculation that if the takeover is completed Kelly will install former Bohemians manager Roddy Collins at the club.
Darlington currently lie second from bottom with the John Courtenay-owned Carlisle United, who Collins managed until eight weeks into the start of this season, seven points below them. The bottom two clubs in the division will be relegated into the Conference.
Cork coup
Cork City have completed the signing of Limerick striker Stephen O'Flynn.
The 21-year-old scored 28 goals in two seasons with the first division outfit and had been linked with a number of Premier Division outfits after Mike Kerley's side missed out on promotion.
Club scheme
National League clubs will discover today whether they have been successful in their applications for the licences they require under the terms of a UEFA-backed scheme aimed at ensuring clubs are run more professionally.
The committee responsible for considering the cases of the 22 senior Irish clubs sent letters containing their decisions to club officials yesterday. Clubs face the possibility of sanctions, up to and including relegation or suspension if they fail to meet a variety of criteria. It is expected, however, the clubs here that fall short of the required standard may yet be granted a reprieve.
Gray blacklists Batty
David Batty has played his last game for Leeds, manager Eddie Gray has said. The former England international is under contract with the club until the end of the season, but Gray has told the 35-year-old he is not part of his plans.
"I've made the decision that I won't play David for the rest of the season, purely from a footballing point of view," Gray said. "I had a chat to David, he knows how I feel, and I think it has been a little frustrating for him as well, especially in the last three or four weeks."
Meanwhile, with the clock again ticking on Leeds' bid for financial survival - with just four days to the latest creditors' deadline - it has emerged that a Ugandan property tycoon has expressed an interest in coming to the aid of the debt-ridden club. Thirty-year-old Michael Ezra has helped bankroll Ugandan Olympic and boxing teams in the recent past.
'Addiction problems'
Former England midfielder Paul Merson has taken a break from soccer to seek treatment for what his club have described as "addictive problems". The 35-year-old former Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa star, who plays for first division Walsall, has fought battles against drink, drug and gambling problems.
Back in the wars
Senegal's El Hadji Diouf has been given a three-match ban after trying to attack a referee at the African Nations Cup finals. The former African player of the year will miss the opening matches of Senegal's World Cup qualifying campaign, which starts in June.
Diouf was found guilty of violent conduct after the tournament's organising committee reviewed a video of the tempestuous quarter-final against Tunisia on Saturday.
The Liverpool striker spent much of the match in a verbal battle with UAE referee Ali Bujsaim and at the end of the 1-0 defeat had to be restrained from attacking him.
Chelsea's Cech mate
French club Rennes have announced that Czech Republic international goalkeeper Petr Cech will join Chelsea at the end of the current season. The 21-year-old has long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and the move has finally been concluded.
Three's a charm
Liverpool striker Harry Kewell has been named Oceania's Player of the Year for the third time. The 25-year-old was the landslide winner of the award, polling 76 votes. Leeds' Mark Viduka was second on 29 votes.
In brief. . .
Former Wales and Leeds striker John Charles will return home this week after more than one month recovering from vascular surgery in Milan. AC Milan's Croatian international defender Dario Simic has signed a new two-year extension to his contract with the European champions. FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to try to force through new rules this month to limit the number of substitutes in international friendlies to five players. And the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead will be screened live by Sky Sports on Sunday, March 7th at 12 noon.
