Burley is new Derby manager

George Burley was last night confirmed as the new manager of Derby County. The 47-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the First Division club and will be unveiled at a press conference at Pride Park today.

Burley was favourite to take over the Rams after the dismissal of the previous manager, John Gregory, was confirmed by the club's chairman, Lionel Pickering, last week. The former Ipswich manager took charge of the team at the end of March when Gregory was suspended after allegations of misconduct. Derby won three out of seven games during his spell as caretaker manager to escape the relegation battle at the bottom of Division One.

Only two years ago Burley was named manager of the year after guiding Ipswich to fifth place in the Premiership, but relegation the following season led to him being dismissed last October. He was linked with the recent vacancies at Aston Villa and Fulham yet was always in line for the Derby job while Gregory's position was being decided.

Burley faces a tough task at Pride Park. Derby are estimated to be £30m in debt and have sold or released 15 members of their first-team squad since being relegated from the Premiership in 2002.

The Manchester City defender Steve Howey has agreed to join Leicester City for an undisclosed fee. Howey, who was capped four times by England while with Newcastle, has signed a one-year contract with the newly promoted Premiership club. The Leicester manager, Micky Adams, said: "We are delighted to be getting Steve on board. He is a former international defender with proven Premiership experience and will be a good addition to the squad."

A proposal to expand the Nationwide League play-offs from four to six teams was forced off the agenda at the Football League's annual general meeting yesterday, as was a plan to deduct points from teams who go into administration.

"The clubs referred the play-off situation back to the League board for further consideration after reservations expressed by the FA and Premier League," the League spokesman, John Nagle, said. The present system will therefore remain in place for next season at least.

Representatives from over 60 of the 72 clubs voted on whether to deny promotion to clubs who go into administration, deduct points or relegate them automatically, but after opposition from First Division clubs all these possible punishments will be discussed at an extraordinary general meeting in September.