Bilic committed to West Ham's cause

Slaven Bilic is in West Ham's team to face Chelsea at Upton Park tonight after assuring his manager Harry Redknapp that he is committed to the club's relegation fight for the rest of the season.

The Croatian centre-back infuriated West Ham supporters when it emerged that he had pounds 5m transfer talks with Everton at the weekend. However, he has rejected Everton manager Joe Royle's offer, which would have made him the Goodison club's best paid player if he had left the Hammers under a clause in his newly signed Upton Park contract which allows him to deal with top clubs that offer more than pounds 4.5m.

Bilic admitted: "Some people have called me stupid for not going to Everton now but it was never my intention to leave at this time. I want to reassure West Ham I am staying for at least the rest of the season. I am not the rat who leaves a sinking ship, as I have been told somebody called me."

Wrexham yesterday broke their outgoing transfer record by selling their highly-rated midfielder Bryan Hughes to Birmingham City for a fee of pounds 1m. "It's a massive fee for a 20-year-old Second Division player, but I met Trevor Francis last night and he obviously thinks I'm worth it,'' Hughes said.

The striker Daniele Dichio is ready to leave Queen's Park Rangers at the end of the season despite turning down the chance to leave Loftus Road and join Wimbledon's Premiership campaign.

"A move to Wimbledon was not right for my career at this stage, but I am a free agent in the summer and would look at any opportunity to play abroad,'' Dichio said.

Mike Sheron is ready to ask Stoke City for a transfer after the club rejected Queen's Park Rangers' latest offer. The pounds 2.5m rated striker has a clause in his contract saying he has to be told of all bids over pounds 2m, but it has proved worthless as Stoke have so far informed him and then reject all offers.

Andy Dibble was having talks with Rangers yesterday and is keen to make his loan move permanent. The Scottish champions want to sign the Manchester City goalkeeper as cover for Andy Goram and Theo Snelders.

Steve Gritt, the Brighton and Hove Albion manager, has hinted he might resign if his club are docked more Nationwide League points by the Football Association.

Albion could be facing more punishment after home fans invaded the pitch during last weekend's 4-4 home draw with Leyton Orient. Five arrests were made after fans allegedly attacked one of Orient's goalscorers, Scott McLeish, and the former England midfielder Ray Wilkins. "I just sat there watching in amazement. I couldn't believe the way events unfolded," Gritt said.

The Barcelona coach and former England manager, Bobby Robson, said yesterday that he has started legal proceedings against his previous club, Porto, over alleged unpaid salaries and bonuses.