Stoke target McIlroy to fill void

Stoke City hope to tempt old boy Sammy McIlroy from the Northern Ireland job to be their new manager.

The Potteries side plan to make an approach over the weekend for McIlroy, who is in Spain with the national squad. McIlroy was a popular player with the club after joining them from Manchester United in the Eighties and he is keen to return to club management.

Stoke shortlisted him for the job last summer, but chose Steve Cotterill instead on Howard Wilkinson's recommendation. Peter Taylor and the former Gillingham manager Tony Pulis are other contenders, but McIlroy is the favourite.

McIlroy lives near Manchester, so there would be minimal upheaval. Stoke have put their first-team coach, Dave Kevan, in temporary charge of first-team affairs until a successor to Cotterill is found.

Leicester have suspended trading in their shares. The First Division side are in debt following relegation, and yesterday asked their players to take a pay cut as they try to cut their wage bill by 20 per cent.

Chelsea's chief executive, Trevor Birch, last night said his club would not be making any significant investment when the transfer window reopens in January. "The increase in TV revenue year-on-year is over for the time being, so you have to cut costs accordingly," he said.

"I don't foresee there being any major transfer activity in January. We're focusing on putting our house in order."

Chelsea are reported to be £98m in debt and were knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Viking Stavanger last week.

Jan Molby was sacked by Hull City yesterday after only a dozen games of the season. Bradford's Nicky Law has been tipped to replace him.

Wimbledon have been told to provide further information before their move to Milton Keynes can go ahead. The club was granted planning permission on a temporary stadium at the National Bowl by the local council, but the Football League wants more details.

Duncan Ferguson had make-or-break surgery on his sciatic nerve last night. Injections have failed to work on Everton's club captain. If the surgery is successful, he could be back by late December.

Tottenham's Simon Davies has been voted the Wales footballer of the year.