Football: Wimbledon purchases keep Luton afloat

WIMBLEDON HAVE signed the Luton Town goalkeeper Kelvin Davis for a fee that could rise to pounds 800,000, depending on appearances. The Premiership club, who last week paid the Second Division side pounds 350,000 for centre- half Chris Willmott, will make an initial payment of pounds 600,000 for the 22-year-old.

It means that since Luton went into receivership last March, the Hatters' manager, Lennie Lawrence, has raised pounds 1.4m on player sales. He was allowed to turn down a pounds 500,000 bid for Davis by the receivers but the Dons returned with an improved offer. "If it helps to get us out of receivership it will be worthwhile and it must take us closer," said Lawrence.

Wimbledon's co-owner, Sam Hammam, has launched a blistering attack on West Ham United after Harry Redknapp's cheeky claim that he would take John Hartson back for pounds 3m.

The Dons manager, Egil Olsen, is assessing his squad but Hammam told the Hammers to forget any ideas about buying back the big striker. The Welsh international moved from Upton Park for a club record fee of pounds 7.5m last year.

Hammam advised Redknapp to keep a settled squad. He said: "If you put all the West Ham players on top of each other, including Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, then put Harry Redknapp on top of them and sprinkled some sugar on to make it sweet, it would not be enough to prise Hartson away from Wimbledon. It appears Harry blundered in letting us have John Hartson. Now he's quoted saying he wants him back. Well, too late pal."

The Huddersfield Town striker Wayne Allison is having talks with Preston North End about a pounds 600,000 transfer. Allison has been given permission to meet the Preston manager, David Moyes, about a move after the clubs agreed a fee.

Roy Keane is the latest Manchester United player to withdraw from the club's pre-season tour to Australia and China. Keane has aggravated the ankle injury he suffered in a collision with Gary Speed during the FA Cup final, and was advised by a specialist not to fly with the rest of the team today.