City target Bruce as No 2

Alan Nixon
Thursday 19 December 1996 01:02 GMT
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Manchester City, who earlier this week revealed their desire to take Brian Kidd from their neighbours United as their new manager, now want United's former captain, Steve Bruce, as Kidd's No 2.

Kidd, Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United, has emerged as the first choice of City's new power group, headed by Stephen Boler, and Bruce, now player-coach at Birmingham City, is seen as the ideal foil, the pair having formed a close friendship at Old Trafford.

Bruce could be tempted by a first break in management and Birmingham would let him go for around pounds 500,000. Bruce is not guaranteed a place in Trevor Francis's team, but he would definitely bolster struggling Manchester City on the field as well as off.

Meanwhile, City's Steve Lomas is looking for the club to reward his loyalty with a new contract as speculation has resurfaced that the Northern Ireland midfielder is attracting interest from Wimbledon.

City will also safeguard the future of their Maine Road headquarters even if they seal a deal to move into the new stadium to be built for the Commonwealth Games.

The First Division club have been given a tentative offer to become "anchor tenants" in the 60,000-seater stadium to be developed across the city at Eastlands after the Games take place in 2002.

Even though City have welcomed the initial idea with open arms, they are also keen to confirm Maine Road will still have a part to play if the move takes place.

Anders Limpar is ready to join Francis at Birmingham. The Swedish midfielder is out of favour at Everton and Francis is keen to take Limpar on loan and then do a permanent deal at around pounds 700,000.

Embarrassed Liverpool officials have formally apologised to Alan Sugar, the Tottenham chairman, for a newspaper article in which their former Spurs defender, Neil Ruddock, attacked Sugar's running of the club. The move is likely to save Ruddock from facing a charge of bringing the game into disrepute, even though the Football Association yesterday revealed it was considering what to do about Sugar's official complaint.

Brian Clough could finally receive some formal recognition for his achievements at Nottingham Forest next month by being named life president of the Premiership club. Clough will receive that offer if the consortium headed by Lawrie Lewis wins the power battle at the City Ground.

Sunderland are lining up a move for the Senegalese international Mamado Diallo. The 23-year-old striker plays for the Turkish First Division side Zeytinburnu and would command a fee of around pounds 1m.

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