Bradford win wages battle

Bradford City have won their fight to stop paying goalkeeper Paul Tomlinson's wages. The Second Division side had been paying Tomlinson pounds 650 a week for the past five months since he refused a contract, but the Football League's appeals committee decided yesterday that he will not be paid after the end of the month. Bradford, however, can still demand a transfer fee for Tomlinson if he finds a new club.

Chris Kamara, Bradford's assistant manager, said: "It's a victory for football that someone should not be allowed to stay at home and get paid. Freedom of contract is not designed for people who want to sit on their backsides. It's supposed to help those who want to play."

Mel Machin, the Bourne-mouth manager, has been censured by the Football Association after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. He was charged, along with assistant manager John Williams, following remarks made to referee Barry Knight during the match against Crewe on 16 September.

The Queen's Park Rangers midfielder Simon Osborn is to have talks about his future with Ray Wilkins only five months after his pounds 850,000 move from Reading. Osborn is unhappy about not being able to secure first-team football and is threatening to leave the club.

An inquiry into a complaint by the England coach, Terry Venables, that a group of people were orchestrating a smear campaign against him has been terminated by detectives, who have not brought any charges.

Tommy Taylor, the Cambridge manager, has banned his players from night- clubs after midfielder Russell Stock was put out of the game for at least two weeks with a fractured eye socket following an incident during a night out.

The FA and the Football and Premier Leagues are to call a summit to settle their differences following their recent spat over television rights. The FA chief executive, Graham Kelly, has written to his League counterparts, asking for a meeting to discuss the way forward. "The needs of the game and the unity of the game demand this," Kelly said.

Spain's Union Deportivo Salamanca are preparing to make a pounds 2.6m bid for Brazil's World Cup striker Romario. He is understood to be unhappy at Flamengo, who have struggled in the Brazilian league this year.