Football: Agent wants Hoddle talks

ANDY COLE'S business manager, Paul Stretford, has urged Glenn Hoddle to call the Manchester United striker to talk over his international future.

Cole and Stretford were angered by Hoddle's comments about his omission from the England squad and the forward had made his distress public. Now Stretford wants his client and the England coach to make their peace.

"Andy has put in his statement what he wants Glenn Hoddle to do," he said. "That is, the door is open and he knows where Andy is and if he wants to give him a call and tell him man to man where he has gone wrong, he would be more than happy to take that call and have that discussion."

Stretford has sent a letter of complaint to the Football Association's chief executive, Graham Kelly, but he is not expecting an apology after Hoddle claimed the striker had not improved sufficiently to be selected.

The board of Manchester United can expect a torrid time today when they face rank and file shareholders for the first time since they recommended acceptance of BSkyB's takeover bid. Shareholding supporters are ready to air their views at the club's annual meeting even though discussion of the pounds 623m buy-out is not on the agenda.

Andy Walsh, chair of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association, says fans have been waiting for the chance to confront the board.

"The disdain with which the board have treated the fans and other shareholders has been staggering," he said. "They have shown a complete lack of respect for the very people who have made the club what it is today."

Arsenal have signed William Huck from Monaco on a one-year contract. The 19-year-old midfielder, who was a free agent, impressed the club's manager, Arsene Wenger, during a recent trial at Highbury.

Wenger was also reported last night to be in pursuit of Internazionale striker Nwankwo Kanu. The Arsenal manager may want to set up a loan deal for the Nigerian international until the end of the season.

Leeds United have made an inquiry for the Celtic and Scotland midfielder, Paul Lambert. The Leeds manager, David O'Leary, is keen to sign Lambert and will be given the go-ahead if he agrees to the Scottish side's pounds 3m valuation.

The pounds 1.5m Swedish midfielder Johan Mjallby is expected to sign for Celtic today from AIK Stockholm.

Rangers have abandoned their attempt to sign Andreas Kopke because of difficulties with the German goalkeeper's home agent.