Sunderland tempt O'Leary with £2m salary
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Your support makes all the difference.Sunderland have offered David O'Leary the chance to become their new manager on a £2m-a-year contract. Terry Venables' predecessor at Leeds United is the first choice for the post and Sunderland are prepared to pay him the salary he was on at Elland Road to see off possible future interest from West Ham United.
O'Leary has admitted his interest in succeeding Peter Reid but has also put out feelers to West Ham, who are unlikely to be able to match those wages. The Irishman would want his own staff, which could lead to potential pitfalls.
The Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy said he was "flattered" to have been linked with the job, but made it clear he is keen to stay in his current job. Gary Megson is another name linked with the Stadium of Light, but the West Bromwich chairman, Jeremy Peace, said he was "completely confident" that he will not quit.
Manchester United will make a £6m move for the West Ham and England goalkeeper David James in the New Year when the transfer window opens. Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to offer cash for James or offer his Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll in part-exchange.
James has already been lobbied about the move behind the scenes and would jump at the chance of leaving struggling West Ham for the challenge of being United's No 1 – and eventually England's. Barthez would be left with the option of competing for the jersey or moving on. The Frenchman has been linked with Milan.
Uri Geller said he would welcome Paul Gascoigne "with open arms" after the former England international revealed he was keen on succeeding John Cornforth as manager of Exeter City. Gascoigne is among the names being linked with the vacant post after Cornforth was sacked last weekend.
Geller, the joint-chairman of Exeter, said: "I am a great admirer of Paul. He clearly is very talented, he is, a fantastic name and I will accept him with open arms. He would be a great psychological boost, which can bring a lot of positive thinking and a positive aura to the club."
The Nationwide League has agreed a television highlights deal with ITV believed to be worth £5m over two years. The lower divisions have been without a terrestrial highlights broadcaster since ITV Digital went into administration in April.
Newcastle United pledged yesterday to focus on developing younger players to counter spiralling wages. The Magpies said players' wages jumped 20 per cent last season to account for 45 per cent of turnover, just below the 48 per cent ratio of Manchester United. The club reported a pre-tax loss of £3.1m for the year to 31 July, after a previous loss of £8.9m. After tax and dividend payments it recorded an overall loss of £7.5m.
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