Compensation threat to Robson's move

Bobby Robson will have to sort out a salary dispute with Barcelona over pounds 850,000 he believes is owed to him - before he joins Everton as their new manager.

The former England manager was officially appproached by the Goodison Park chairman, Peter Johnson, with the offer to become Joe Royle's successor at the Merseyside club during weekend talks in Spain.

However Robson will not leave the Catalan club until he is fully compensated for the 14 months left on his contract as their coach. He is angry that Barcelona have lined up the Ajax coach, Louis van Gaal, for next season.

Although Barcelona have said they want Robson to stay in some capacity, he will take legal action against them for the equivalent of constructive dismissal if he is not paid up, and wants that row settled before he leaves for England.

Nottingham Forest's general manager, Dave Bassett, has hit back at critics blaming him for the club's plight at the foot of the Premiership. Forest's fortunes have dipped in the last few weeks, with only eight points gained from eight games.

"People might try and say that our results have dipped since I came here and link it to me, but I wasn't around when Forest won only one of their first 15 games this season," Bassett said. "The team has not won enough games and scored enough goals from day one."

Danny Bergara has been sacked as the manager of Rotherham United after just eight months in charge. He was appointed last September, following the sacking of the joint managers, Archie Gemmill and John McGovern, but has been unable to stop the South Yorkshire club from slipping into the Third Division.

Shrewsbury Town's 19-goal top scorer, Ian Stevens, will join Carlisle United at the end of the season, after the clubs agreed a pounds 100,000 deal.