Frustrated Rangers pull out of Raducioiu transfer

Football

GUY HODGSON

Rangers have abandoned attempts to sign the Romanian striker Florin Raducioiu. Their manager, Walter Smith, who has just six days to beat the European Cup signing deadline, yesterday gave up on the pounds 2.7m deal with the Spanish club Espanol after almost three months of wrangling.

"We are fed up with the messing around that has been involved and our interest in the player has ended," Smith said.

Wimbledon have taken steps to safeguard their goalkeeping position by signing Paul Heald, 25, from Leyton Orient after their regular keeper, Hans Segers, was charged with conspiracy and corruption in relation to alleged match-rigging,. Heald's fee was set at pounds 125,000 by tribunal, but this will rise to pounds 275,000 after 60 appearances.

Coventry have accepted that Roy Wegerle's days with the club are over. The striker's contract ran out in June and he has not returned from playing for the United States in the Copa America. Steven Pressley and Sandy Robertson left Highfield Road yesterday, joining Dundee United for a joint fee of pounds 1m.

The Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson is due in Istanbul today to join Fenerbahce. Newcastle's Lee Clark has signed new a three-year contract, while Manchester United have agreed a four-year deal with David Beckham, their England Under-21 midfield player, quashing speculation that he was unsettled.

"The only difficulty was over whether he would get a club car," Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said. "He will get one after a specified number of games."

Derby have signed the utility player Darryl Powell, 24, from Portsmouth for pounds 750,000.

Bryan Robson has decided that even at 38 he is still young enough for the Premiership. The Middlesbrough manager said: "There's no need to announce my retirement. If we are hit by injuries I will be an important part of the team."