Football: Stoke intent on bringing back Macari

Lou Macari is the unanimous choice of the Stoke City directors to succeed Joe Jordan as manager. Macari relinquished the post at Stoke 10 months ago after taking them to the Second Division title, he then took over at Celtic but was sacked six months later.

Stoke and Jordan parted company 'by mutual consent' last week, when Bob Kenyon was also removed from the board. Yesterday, Kenyon tabled a takeover bid and said: 'I feel I shouldn't have been the one who was asked to resign.'

Aston Villa are optimistic about Mark Bosnich's chances of playing in goal against Internazionale in the Uefa Cup first round, first leg in Milan tomorrow night. Bosnich missed Saturday's win over Ipswich with a knee injury.

Elsewhere in the West Midlands Coventry hope to have the United States winger, Cobi Jones, in their side on Saturday. He was finally granted a work permit yesterday. And Billy Wright is to have his last wish granted by having his ashes scattered over Molineux.