Football: Coca-Cola Cup - League will not punish 'reserve' sides

The Football League has chosen not to take any action against Manchester United and Arsenal for fielding under-strength sides in Tuesday's Coca-Cola Cup ties.

After threatening both clubs with possible expulsion if they did not field their strongest possible line-ups, the League has backed down. "We appreciate that the senior clubs in the country operate a squad system and with that in mind we are able to enforce a degree of flexibility and latitude," its press spokesman, Chris Hull, said.

The League is also renewing its efforts to reclaim a place for the Coca- Cola winners in next season's Uefa Cup.

Scotland have been invited to play the World Cup hosts, France, in a friendly at St Etienne, one of the venues for the finals, on 12 November.

Wolves have agreed a fee of about pounds 800,000 with Crystal Palace for Dougie Freedman. The 23-year-old striker will discuss personal terms at Molineux today. Fulham are ready to pay Arsenal pounds 700,000 for the midfielder Ian Selley. Crewe Alexandra's offer of a club record pounds 750,000 for Dave Walton has been accepted by Shrewsbury, but the 24-year-old defender has so far failed to agree personal terms.

Bolton Wanderers are setting up an exchange deal to sell the midfielder Jamie Pollock to Aston Villa in exchange for the former Leicester forward, Julian Joachim. Bolton are likely to accept about pounds 700,000 plus Joachim in exchange for Pollock.

Blackburn Rovers and Rangers have both made enquiries for Wimbledon's Scottish international goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan. The Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb has been ruled out of action for a month after suffering cracked ribs in training.

Manchester City have admitted unfairly sacking their former youth development officers, Colin Bell and Terry Farrell, in May, and will pay them both compensation. The club had been taken to an industrial tribunal, at which a settlement was negotiated.