Football: Rovers'Davies put up for sale

KEVIN DAVIES has been fined pounds 30,000, dropped and put up for sale by Blackburn Rovers after breaking a club curfew 48 hours before they were relegated against Manchester United on Wednesday.

The pounds 7.5m striker and his team-mate, the Swiss Under-21 prospect Oumar Konde, were spotted drinking by some Blackburn fans who informed the club. Southampton are interested in re-signing their former player if they avoid relegation. Konde has also been hit with the maximum two weeks' wages penalty, in his case around pounds 6,000.

Derby County still hoping to complete the pounds 3m signing of the England Under-21 midfielder Seth Johnson from Crewe yesterday.

County agreed the deal back in March but the 20-year-old decided to stay with Crewe and help them in their fight against relegation from the First Division. He is also a target of Liverpool but it is believed he may prefer a transfer to the Rams.

A buyer has been found for cash-strapped Portsmouth, subject to approval from the Football League. The Miami-based businessman Milan Mandaric is expected to be named as the new owner within a month.

The Serbian-born multi-millionaire, who has amassed a fortune from his computer empire based in California, failed in an attempt to take over at Fratton Park four years ago. However, Pompey's administrator, Tom Burton, says the club is now on the verge of being sold, with contracts due to be exchanged once the Football League has approved the pounds 4m deal and creditors have been appeased.

The Yugoslavian Football Association declared the country's championship over yesterday without naming a winner. Officials said it was impossible to play league football with "Nato aggression" against Yugoslavia still in progress.

After 24 rounds played and with 10 still to go, Partizan Belgrade led the standings with 66 points. The reigning champions Obilic were in second place, two points adrift, with Red Star Belgrade a further 10 points behind.