Football: Premiership giants accused of poaching young players

FOUR Premiership clubs have been charged with trying to poach young players from other teams.

Manchester United, Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa, together with Wolves of the First Division, are alleged to have breached the Football Association's Programme of Excellence Regulations by attempting to sign youngsters attached to other clubs under the scheme. The clubs have until Thursday to answer the charges.

Everton have been charged following a complaint from Wolves in connection with four players, while Villa are charged over alleged approaches to three West Brom youngsters and one who was at Charlton. Hull have complained about Newcastle trying to sign two of their players, while United have been charged over alleged bids for a player each from Crewe and Stockport. Shrewsbury have also accused Wolves of attempting to sign one of their youngsters.

Frank Burrows is the new manager of Cardiff City. The Scot was in charge at Ninian Park club from 1986 to 1989, leading Cardiff to promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1988.

Don Hutchison is on the verge of joining Everton, in time to face his former club Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at the weekend. Hutchison is switching from Sheffield United with a small cash adjustment, with the young defender Jon O'Connor going the other way.

Bryan Gunn, who has lost his first-team place at Norwich to Andy Marshall, is joining Hibernian on loan for the rest of the season.

ICI, which has sold off a number of its businesses in recent months, is to sell its 25 per cent share in Middlesbrough.