Football: Royle ready to part with Kinkladze

JOE ROYLE is ready to sell Georgi Kinkladze in a Maine Road revolution, which began yesterday with the sacking of the chief scout, Jimmy Frizzell - a former Manchester City manager himself.

The new City manager has decided to take the drastic measure of moving out the crowd-pleasing Georgian in order to finance the purchase of three or four battle-hardened faces to fight off the prospect of dropping into the Second Division.

Royle took 90 minutes to come to his conclusion after seeing Kinkladze and his team-mates slump to a 2-1 home defeat against Ipswich on Wednesday. He feels that Kinkladze has become too important a member of the side, which is over-reliant on his flair.

Frizzell, who had been at Maine Road since 1984, has been replaced by Royle's former Oldham colleague, Jim Cassell, who had been in charge of youth development at City.

Ian Rush is having talks with Sheffield United about becoming player- coach under their manager, Nigel Spackman. The former Welsh international will leave Newcastle on a free transfer if Willie Donachie, currently No 2 at Sheffield United, moves from Bramall Lane to become Royle's assistant at Manchester City.

The Southampton manager, Dave Jones, has indicated to his Arsenal counterpart, Arsene Wenger, that Kevin Davies, might be available - but only at the right price.

The Frenchman is a great admirer of the 20-year-old forward, who joined the Saints last year from Chesterfield. A fee of pounds 2m has been mentioned for a player who cost pounds 750,000. Jones said yesterday: "I think 15,000 fans who pack the stadium week in week out would not be very happy if I sold him for pounds 2m. But at the end of the day every player does have his price."

Moussa Saib is due to arrive at White Hart Lane today to conclude transfer talks with the Tottenham chairman, Alan Sugar. The Algerian international midfielder first opened negotiations with Gross in January when it became clear that Valencia were prepared to sell him for around pounds 2.5m.

The move was put on hold because Saib was needed by his country in the African Nations' Cup this month, but now the way is clear for him to sign for Spurs, with only a medical and his personal terms to be settled.

The Croatian club Hajduk Split have accepted a new offer from Sheffield Wednesday for the Macedonian international centre-half Goce Sedloski.

The Owls will pay an initial fee of pounds 750,000 followed by extra payments up to a maximum of pounds 1m, depending upon appearances.

Ron Atkinson's club were due to sign Sedloski in a pounds 1.75m deal in December, but it was put on ice after the player failed an initial medical. He has since had new tests and is due to arrive at Hillsborough shortly to re- negotiate personal terms.

The West Ham striker Samassi Abou and the midfielder Steve Lomas will miss tomorrow's trip to Bolton after both being given extra one-match bans for laying hands on referees.

Abou was found guilty of misconduct by the Football Association yesterday after his actions in protesting to David Elleray about his sending-off at Tottenham on 17 January for fouling Ramon Vega. Because the punishment given to Abou, who was also fined pounds 1,000, comes into effect immediately, he misses the same game as Lomas, who was found guilty of a similar offence by the FA two weeks ago but had his penalty postponed until now.