Football: Dalglish tempts Tomasson to Tyneside

Kenny Dalglish has made Jon Dahl Tomasson his third major signing for Newcastle United in a pounds 2.5m move that will take the Dane from the Dutch Cup finalists, Heerenveen to, Tyneside in the summer.

The attacking midfielder is one of the top scorers in the Netherlands this season, and even before his arrival at Newcastle he is being touted as a long-term replacement for Peter Beardsley. Tomasson is signing a deal worth an estimated pounds 30,000 a week, making him the biggest of Dalglish's three signings so far after Bradford City's Des Hamilton and the Georgian, Temur Ketsbaia.

Blackburn, Dalglish's previous club, were also endeavouring to strengthen their squad yesterday by making a pounds 2m bid for the French international right-back Patrick Blondeau.

The Rovers chairman, Robert Coar, tabled an offer at the weekend to Monaco for the defender after Roy Hodgson, who will move to Ewood Park in the summer, told him to make the approach. Blondeau impressed Hodgson in the two games against his Internazionale side in the Uefa Cup semi- final. Blackburn are competing with both Sheffield Wednesday and Rangers for the Frenchman's signature.

The Football League has refused a request from the satellite broadcaster, Sky Sports, to switch Hereford United's crucial Third Division survival match with Brighton at Edgar Street from Saturday to Sunday in order to screen the game live.

Chris Hull, a League spokesman, said: "Sky asked the League to move the game forward to Sunday but, after consulting both clubs and the local police, we felt the game should remain on Saturday."

The Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson said he is disillusioned with the "apathy and antipathy" in professional football and intends standing down at the end of the season. Bateson has been in charge at Plainmoor for seven seasons, investing pounds 1.3m in the Third Division club.

Bateson said: "After the trials and tribulations of the last few years, it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to conjure up the enthusiasm and optimism which is a prerequisite of running a football club. I have had my ups and downs but I'm increasingly tired of the apathy and antipathy in the professional game.

"I'd like to stress, however, that the people who have had a go at me over the years would not push me one inch towards resigning if I did not feel I've had enough." Bateson intends to sell his 82 per cent majority shareholding in the club. His wife, a fellow director, will also sell her shares.

Leeds United's chief executive