Leicester 'astonished' by order to reinstate Wise

Leicester City have expressed their anger at being ordered to reinstate their sacked player Dennis Wise by the Football League.

The League's Football Disciplinary Commission ruled the club were wrong to terminate the former England midfielder's contract after an incident involving his team-mate Callum Davidson.

Wise was sent home from the club's pre-season tour of Finland last month after the altercation which left Davidson with a double fracture of the cheekbone. The FDC accepted that Wise had assaulted Davidson but stated that a fine of two weeks' wages was the maximum punishment which could be administered under current League regulations.

Leicester's chairman Martin George said: "We are astonished the Football League regulations do not allow for the dismissal of a player who has committed a serious and unprovoked assault on a fellow professional. We have immediately appealed against the decision in regard to the dismissal." The club expect the appeal to be heard on 28 August.

Wise was suspended by City after the incident in the team hotel and they later took the decision to dispense with his services at a board meeting.

Even though Matt Holland trained with Ipswich Town yesterday, ending speculation that he was about to join Aston Villa, the Midlanders were able to make one signing: the Republic of Ireland international Mark Kinsella.

The 30-year-old midfielder moves from Charlton Athletic, where he had been since 1996, and has agreed a two-year contract. Kinsella, believed to have cost around £1m, has joined in time to make his debut against Tottenham at White Hart Lane today. The Dubliner played in all four of Ireland's World Cup matches, and made over 200 appearances for the Addicks.

While Kinsella was completing his transfer, the Japanese World Cup player Alex agreed to move to Charlton. The Brazilian-born midfielder has agreed a contract that will keep him at the London club until 2007.

Lee Hughes is poised for a return to The Hawthorns after West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City agreed a fee in the region of £3m to take the 26-year-old striker back to the club he left 12 months ago.

The Wales manager, Mark Hughes, has taken the gamble of including Craig Bellamy in his squad for the European Championship qualifier in Finland next month, even though the Newcastle United striker has not played a full match since his summer knee operation.