Football: Kinkladze's move to Ajax breaks down

GEORGI KINKLADZE'S proposed move from Manchester City to Ajax ran into trouble yesterday. Talks between the clubs broke down after the Dutch club's officials met a delegation from City that included the chairman, David Bernstein, the football director, Dennis Tueart, and the manager, Joe Royle.

The meeting was aimed at thrashing out the deal's final details but the parties could not agree on the player's valuation. Royle said: "We had very friendly discussions, but we could not agree a figure that was acceptable to both parties and their officials have gone back home. Both clubs have given their views on the valuation. We felt their offer was not acceptable for a player of Gio's talents. We were considerably apart on the fee."

Kinkladze has been out of Royle's team plans for the last three matches. "We will now have a chat with him and say 'let's settle down and see what you can do.'"

Aston Villa's pounds 1.5m striker Julian Joachim is poised to commit his long term future to the in-form Premiership club. Joachim, a former England Under-21 international, is enjoying his best run in the first team at Villa Park and has scored seven goals so far this season. His contract at Villa Park still has more than 12 months to run, but his manager, John Gregory, wants him to sign a new one.

Joachim said: "If the terms and conditions are right then it won't be a problem."

Paul Gascoigne will line up alongside his old Spurs team-mate Paul Walsh for the ex-England striker's testimonial next month. Gascoigne will pull on a Portsmouth jersey, as Pompey take on Jim Smith's Derby County at Fratton Park on May 4. Ian Wright and Teddy Sheringham have also been approached to play in the match.

Birmingham's pounds 1m striker Dele Adebola has turned his back on the chance to play for Northern Ireland. He has told the Northern Ireland manager, Lawrie McMenemy, that he does not want to be considered for the next international.

Adebola was named in the Northern Ireland squad to play Slovakia last month, but pulled out with a back strain. He was born in Nigeria and has been watched by the former Wimbledon striker John Fashanu on behalf of the Nigerian Football Association.

Newcastle fans yesterday hailed a "victory for commonsense" after Great North- Eastern Railway reinstated a flat-rate pounds 30 return SuperApex ticket on two extra trains from Newcastle to Kings Cross on 16 May to help ferry fans to Wembley.The company had planned to make fans pay pounds 63 each for Super-Saver tickets.