Football: Williams joins B men

DAVID WILLIAMS, the AFC Bournemouth No 2, has been put in charge of the Wales B team to meet Scotland B at Wrexham on 2 February.

Williams, the former Bristol Rovers and Wales midfielder, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Terry Yorath as national manager. But the chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, Alun Evans, insisted Williams' appointment was just for the B-team friendly.

Bernie Slaven, Port Vale's match-winner in Tuesday's FA Cup replay against Southampton, was transfer-listed yesterday at his own request. Swindon Town are close to signing the Newcastle United defender, Brian Kilcline, for pounds 90,000. Lee Sharpe, the Manchester United and England winger, will be out for six weeks following a hernia operation.

Brian Borrows will play his next match in a protective mask. The Coventry City right- back collected a cracked bone beside his left eye in Saturday's match at Southampton.

'The doctor has advised me not to play for a week, but I have been measured up for a 'Phantom of the Opera' style mask for when I do come back,' Borrows said.

West Bromwich Albion's attempt to raise pounds 1.3m through an issue of new shares to finance ground redevelopment has run into problems. Albion's directors have been told they will struggle to get the 75 per cent backing that they need for the share issue at today's EGM.

The Barnet chairman, David Buchler, will ask creditors to vote on a rescue package at a meeting next Wednesday. 'If at least 75 per cent of creditors agree to the measures I am proposing, then the winding up petition faced by the club will be removed,' he said yesterday.