No appeal for Graham

George Graham, the former Arsenal manager, decided yesterday not to appeal against the Football Association's decision to ban him from the game for 12 months for transfer irregularities. The suspension was later extended worldwide and, in a statement, he gave three reasons why he would accept the punishment.

"I do not have a bottomless pocket to meet the costs of an appeal,'' Graham said. "I feel in my heart I would not get a fair hearing and I want to get on with the rest of my life and put this episode behind me." He is adamant he will return to football, adding: "My aim is to be back in football management within the year."

Simon Stainrod has resigned as the manager of Ayr United, the Scottish Second Division team, after a run of poor results, culminating in Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Berwick Rangers.

Manchester City are hoping to bring the Portsmouth striker, Gerry Creaney, to Maine Road and send Paul Walsh, the former England striker, back to Fratton Park. "It is true that I have talked to Terry about the possibility of exchanging Paul for Gerry Creaney,'' Alan Ball, the City manager said. "But our valuations are a million miles apart, and unless Portsmouth drop the price the deal won't go through.''

n Fernando Redondo, the Real Madrid midfielder, has been denied an international call-up for Argentina because he refused to cut his hair. The Argentine coach, Daniel Passarella, said last year he would ignore any player with long hair as it often impeded vision.