Hearts sign three

Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, has signed five players at a total cost of pounds 1m - Jeremy Goss, the Welsh international midfielder from Norwich, Neil McCann, the Scotland Under-21 winger from Dundee, the defender David Weir, from Jefferies' old club Falkirk, plus the goalkeeper Craig Nelson and the midfielder Brian Hamilton.

Trevor Sinclair, the QPR winger who is a possible pounds 5m transfer target for Leeds, limped off with a leg injury after 18 minutes of last night's pre-season friendly at Barnet.

Hibernian have been fined pounds 5,000 by the Scottish FA, who are continuing their disciplinary clampdown. Hibs are the only Premier club to be fined, although Hearts, along with the relegated pair Falkirk and Partick Thistle, have been warned. The First Division clubs Airdrie and St Mirren have been fined pounds 2,000 each, while Forfar and Albion Rovers were fined pounds 1,000 each. Stranraer, in the Second Division, have been fined for the third year in succession and will have to pay out pounds 3,000.

Bulgaria's Soccer Union yesterday appointed the veteran Hristo Bonev to coach the country's team. Bonev replaces Dimitar Penev, who had to step down after his team failed to qualify for the European Championship quarter-finals in June.

England Under-18s yesterday qualified for the finals of next year's World Under-19 Cup in Malaysia after securing a sudden-death 3-2 victory over Belgium in the European Championships in Besancon, eastern France.