Kear finds a home at Wigan as Raper's assistant

Wigan are to name the former England coach, John Kear, as assistant to Stuart Raper in a surprise move.

Kear, who guided England in last year's World Cup, is currently in charge of the national youth sides, but has been without a job at club level since being sacked by Huddersfield last season. It is thought that he will be able to carry on with the Under-21s, but not with his other responsibilities at Academy level. His arrival at the JJB to assist Raper, who only came to the club himself in May, should not affect Billy McGinty's role coaching the club's Alliance team. McGinty, who is also the Scotland coach, was assistant in all but name to the previous Wigan coach, Frank Endacott.

One of the young Wigan players who will come under Kear's wing, Martin Aspinwall, will make his first-team debut at Huddersfield on Sunday.

Doncaster may not start next season in the Northern Ford Premiership if they cannot increase their income, their chairman has warned. John Wright, who has been propping up the club at a personal cost of £10,000 a month, said that there "would be no point continuing" unless the club can bring in more money from its lottery. "There is a £100,000 shortfall in our annual income," he said. "I can't afford to keep putting money into a black hole."

Kevin Sinfield has turned his back on offers from Australia and rugby union to sign a new four-year contract with Leeds. "I wanted to look at all the options, but I never wanted to leave," he said. "It came down to where I would develop most as a player and a person and Leeds came out on top." Salford, who are at Leeds tonight, hope to include Jason Nicol, who has played only six matches this season because of a knee reconstruction and a broken toe.

Bradford will use their home match against Hull tonight to pay tribute to Stuart Spruce, the Great Britain full-back who is leaving the club because of a shoulder injury.

London have made another signing to try to fill the gaps left by their horrendous injury list. The former Leeds and Halifax back-rower, Kris Smith, comes into the squad to play Wakefield, with Andy Johnson the latest absentee with an eye injury.