Football: Plymouth sign Grobbelaar

Bruce Grobbelaar, who is due to appear in court in January over match-fixing allegations, has joined Plymouth Argyle, writes Mark Burton.

The 38-year-old Zimbabwe international, who was released by Southampton this summer, has signed a 12-month contract. Grobbelaar, who made more than 600 appearances for Liverpool, will play for the newly promoted Second Division club against Manchester City in today's friendly match at Home Park.

Argyle's manager, Neil Warnock, was keen to sign him for what he expects to be a difficult season for Plymouth. "I realise he has got problems but what matters most is what he does on the pitch," Warnock said.

The problem the Leeds United manager, Howard Wilkinson, faces is that Tony Yeboah will not be doing anything on the pitch for a while. The Ghanaian international striker will undergo an exploratory operation early next week on the knee injury that kept him out of action late last season. "It is not possible to say how many games Tony will miss," Wilkinson said.

Motherwell's Paul Lambert became another post-Bosman Scottish export yesterday when he joined the German champions, Borussia Dortmund, on a three-year contract after impressing their coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, in two trial periods. Lambert left the Premier Division club on freedom of contract to move to the Continent.

Ivano Bonetti, the former Juventus and Torino midfielder, whose dressing- room row with the manager, Brian Laws, led to him leaving Grimsby Town, has signed a 12-month contract with Tranmere Rovers after weeks of talks.

The Wolves manager, Mark McGhee, expects right-back Serge Romano to sign a one-year contract at Molineux on Monday. Romano, who is available on a free transfer from Martigues, played on trial in Wolves' pre-season matches.

The Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock has been fined pounds 2,000 by the FA's disciplinary committee and warned about his future conduct for exceeding 45 disciplinary points last season.

Aime Jacquet, who coached France in Euro 96, will continue to lead them in the 1998 World Cup finals, which they host.