Vieira to face second FA misconduct charge

THE PROBLEMS are mounting up for Patrick Vieira. The Football Association, still waiting to learn whether the Arsenal midfielder would like a personal hearing into charges relating to his exchanges with West Ham's Neil Ruddock, have now charged him with misconduct in the tunnel after his dismissal at Upton Park.

THE PROBLEMS are mounting up for Patrick Vieira. The Football Association, still waiting to learn whether the Arsenal midfielder would like a personal hearing into charges relating to his exchanges with West Ham's Neil Ruddock, have now charged him with misconduct in the tunnel after his dismissal at Upton Park.

The Arsenal midfielder was allegedly involved in an altercation with a policeman following his dismissal for two bookable offences. Vieira has until Monday to request a personal hearing on the first charge, brought after he spat at Ruddock.

Aston Villa are supporting their goalkeeper, David James, who was involved in a fatal car crash yesterday. James was uninjured, but a passenger in the other vehicle - a 69-year-old woman - died as a result of the accident in Chester.

A Villa statement said: "Naturally, David was very shocked and distressed by this accident and has been told to stay at home until he feels able to return to training. The club will do everything it can to support David during this very difficult time."

Scarborough expect their teenage goalkeeper, James Jowsey, to complete a transfer to Manchester United by the end of the week. The two clubs have discussed the terms of the deal for the 15-year-old and the transfer should be finalised in the next day or two.

A spokesman for Scarborough, who were relegated to the Conference last season, said: "We have a gentleman's agreement at the moment. We're hoping that everything will be sorted out this week."

Jowsey's transfer will reportedly be worth up to £250,000 depending on how he develops.

Macclesfield Town, struggling in the Third Division, have unveiled plans for a new 10,000 capacity stadium. The new sports and leisure would be built close to Moss Rose, their home for 108 years.

Birmingham City are to end the loan spell of the Southampton left-back, John Beresford, because he will need an operation to have a cartilage removed after falling down the stairs at home and damaging the same knee on which he had major surgery 12 months ago.

Juan Cobian, an Argentinian who can play at either right-back or in right midfield, has joined Aberdeen on trial. The 24-year-old, who played 16 times for Sheffield Wednesday last season, interested Bolton and spent a short time with Charlton Athletic. Cobianwas signed by the Hillsborough club from Boca Juniors.

Aberdeen's manager, Ebbe Skovdahl, still wants to strengthen his squad, despite the Premier Division side's recent improvement. Last night they made it into the last eight of the CIS Insurance Cup by beating Falkirk, of the First Division, via a penalty shoot-out.

After all the talk about moving on and what sounded like invitations from the club to do so, Benito Carbone has decided he wants to stay with Sheffield Wednesday and make a new start. The Italian striker appears to have put his problems behind him in talks with the Wednesday manager, Danny Wilson, and says he wants to stay at Hillsborough until his contract runs out next June.

"Mistakes were made but now we want to start afresh and, for my part, I want to do my best for this club. I told him [Wilson] it was my intention to see out my contract," Carbone said.

Reading have appointed Alan Pardew as a permanent successor to Tommy Burns as manager. Pardew has signed a two-year contract as has John Gorman, who has been appointed assistant manager. The pair took charge of the Second Division club in caretaker capacities after Burns was sacked last month. Pardew had previously been in charge of Reading's now defunct reserve team while Gorman was at West Bromwich, having also been Glenn Hoddle's No 2 with England.