Football: Lee to give Horton support: Evans lets players have their say at Anfield

DESPITE his side's poor performances, Brian Horton, the beleaguered manager of Manchester City, will receive the backing of Francis Lee, the Maine Road club's new chairman - for the time being, writes Rupert Metcalf.

Lee, the former City and England player who won a pounds 3m takeover battle last week, will fly in from Barbados today. Colin Barlow, the club's new chief executive, said yesterday: 'The first thing Francis will do is have a chat with Brian and the players. (They) need a bit of backing at this critical time. A couple of victories can make all the difference. Six points will change the atmosphere completely - and blow away all the gloom.'

Roy Evans, the new Liverpool manager, met the club's playing staff yesterday to discuss the post-Souness strategy at Anfield. 'It's just something I felt we had to do, allowing players young and old to have input into the club,' he said.

Newcastle, who have failed to persuade Queen's Park Rangers to sell their centre-half, Darren Peacock, have denied that Tottenham have bid for their top scorer, Andy Cole. 'They haven't got enough money to buy him unless they are prepared to sell White Hart Lane,' Terry McDermott, the Magpies' assistant manager, said.