Wise sues Leicester in attempt to reclaim £2.3m in lost earnings

Dennis Wise has launched a High Court action against Leicester City to reclaim more than £2.3m in lost earnings following the termination of his contract in August. Wise was dismissed by the club after an altercation with his team-mate Callum Davidson on a pre-season tour of Finland. Wise challenged his dismissal, but a four-man tribunal panel ruled last month that Leicester were within their rights to sack the former England international.

This latest development comes at the worst possible time for Leicester, with the club understood to be around £30m in debt. Leicester players agreed on Wednesday to defer 20 per cent of their weekly earnings to try to ease the club's plight following their relegation from the Premiership in May. But Wise's move adds to the the club's problems considerably.

A statement released through his solicitors said: "We confirm that civil proceedings have today been commenced in the High Court on behalf of Dennis Wise, against Leicester City Football Club plc, for wrongful termination of his employment on August 14 2002. The claim is for a sum in excess of £2.36m. Separate employment tribunal proceedings are to be instituted shortly in regard to unfair dismissal in addition to the civil proceedings." Leicester would not comment until they had seen all the legal documentation.

Wise made 19 appearances for Leicester, scoring one goal. He signed a two-season deal with Millwall on 24 September and has so far made three appearances for the south London club. He arrived at Leicester after 10 successful seasons with Chelsea, and won 21 caps for England, scoring one goal.

Howard Wilkinson, the new Sunderland manager, has attempted to ease the nerves of his players by telling them they are not on trial despite the club's £2.8m losses.

While there is no money to buy players when the transfer window reopens in January, Wilkinson said he has been informed by the club's chairman, Bob Murray, that he is under no pressure to sell despite the club announcing a £2.8m loss yesterday. That does not include the recent signing of the strikers Tore Andre Flo and Marcus Stewart for a combined £10m.

Eight players, Jurgen Macho, Stefan Schwarz, Stanislav Varga, Lilian Laslandes, Bernt Haas, Tom Peeters, Baki Mercimek and Jon Kennedy, are on the transfer list. "The players are not on trial," Wilkinson said. "What they are here to do is contribute to our success. It's not life or death. It never is."

Roy Keane may return from injury and suspension for Manchester United's Champions' League game against Bayer Leverkusen on 13 November.

The Third Division club, Exeter, have confirmed the appointment of Neil McNab as their new manager. The former Portsmouth and Manchester City coach has named the former Darlington manager and Sunderland defender Gary Bennett as his assistant.

Ipswich Town's caretaker manager, Tony Mowbray, has been assured by the chairman, David Sheepshanks, that he will be interviewed for the vacancy to replace the sacked George Burley, along with other candidates.