Royle in pursuit of Ward

Joe Royle, the new Ipswich Town manager, is trying to make the Bradford striker Ashley Ward and the Leeds defender Michael Duberry his first signings at the Suffolk club.

Bradford are keen to remove the 31-year-old Ward, who has scored just twice this season, from their wage bill and have confirmed they are in talks with Ipswich.

"Nothing has been finalised yet," a Bradford spokesman said. "It could be a loan move or permanent."

Royle has also approached Leeds about the defender Duberry. There is a small market for Duberry with little Premiership interest and few Nationwide League sides able to afford the fee or his wages.

Duberry is one of a handful of Leeds players earmarked for the exit as Venables and his chairman, Peter Ridsdale, make room for new signings.

Venables has set up a move for the Argentinian defender Gabriel Milito at around £3.5m from Independiente, but will have to balance the books. Ian Harte, rated at £4m, is available, along with Gary Kelly and Olivier Dacourt although it will also be hard to find buyers.

The Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, has confirmed that the club will appeal against the sending-off of Bruno N'Gotty in Saturday's home game against West Bromwich Albion. The French defender was given a straight red card by the referee Mike Riley for a challenge on West Bromwich's Jason Roberts in a 1-1 draw. After looking at a match video, Allardyce said: "We believe the sending-off was very harsh indeed."

Tottenham have put the Ukrainian striker Sergei Rebrov on the transfer list, according to his agent. Rebrov, 28, has never lived up to expectations since his £11m transfer from Dynamo Kiev two years ago. Last season he scored just one league goal in 30 appearances. "They are not keen on him as a player," said his agent, Sandor Varga.

Russell Hoult has been named the Midlands Player of the Year for 2001-2002 by the Football Writers' Association. The West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper was the unanimous choice after helping the Baggies win promotion to the Premiership in May. Aston Villa's Darius Vassell won the Young Player of the Year award.