Sporting Digest: Football

Earl Jean, Plymouth Argyle's St Lucian international striker, has been released to join the Trinidad side W Connection.

Dundee United have beaten the transfer deadline by signing the 24-year- old Celtic winger Brian McLaughlin on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The Parkhead club released him from his contract, due to end this summer, so he could move to Tayside.

The striker Yang Chen became the first Chinese player to join the Bundesliga when he signed a two-year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, the German First Division club, on Tuesday.

Peter Reid has been named Nationwide League First Division manager of the month and will be presented with the award on his fourth anniversary in charge of Sunderland today. The Wearsiders won all five of their First Division matches during March including victories over promotion rivals Bradford and Bolton. Ray Mathias is the Second Division recipient after his Wigan side won three of their four March league games and also reached the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield. Barnet's run of three wins and a draw pulled them clear of trouble at the foot of the Third Division and earned John Still that section's award.