Football: Vote of confidence for Gorman: Swindon back manager as Fifa secretary predicts his own exit

JOHN GORMAN, the Swindon Town manager, was yesterday given a vote of confidence. The club chairman, Ray Hardman, said he considered Gorman the best man to lead the club back to the Premiership if they were relegated.

''We are looking to rebuild for the future and I can't see that anybody else would do better than John Gorman, given the constraints,' he said.

Sepp Blatter, the Fifa general secretary, said yesterday he would leave his post in 1998 and indicated he was unlikely to stand to succeed Joao Havelange as president. Blatter also said that video evidence will be used to help judge players' offences at this year's World Cup finals. Video would be restricted to disciplinary proceedings after matches and would not be used during games to change refereeing decisions.

The Swindon full-back, Paul Bodin, has been put on stand- by the Wales manager, Mike Smith, for Wednesday's friendly against Sweden at Wrexham.

Manchester United's Keith Gillespie has withdrawn from Northern Ireland's squad for Wednesday's European Championship qualifier against Lichtenstein at Windsor Park, Belfast. The 19-year-old winger has fractured his wrist.

Bryan Robson has handed over the club captaincy of United to Steve Bruce. 'These days I'm just happy to play in the team,' Robson, who has been the United captain for 10 years, said.

Real Madrid yesterday named Jorge Valdano, Tenerife's Argentinian coach, as successor to Benito Floro.

Tony Cascarino, the Chelsea striker, has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's World Cup warm-up game against the Netherlands in Tilburg. Cascarino has a groin injury.

Non-League football, page 35