Sporting Digest: Football

CHRIS NICHOLL, the former Southampton manager, has emerged as the leading contender to replace Billy Bingham when he retires in December as the manager of Northern Ireland.

ROBERTO MANCINI, the Sampdoria striker, will replace the injured Pierluigi Casiraghi of Juventus in the Italian side for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Berne.

TRANSFERS: Tony Cousins, striker, Liverpool to Middlesbrough (free). Paul Kee, goalkeeper, Oxford United to Wimbledon (loan).

LIBERTADORES CUP Quarter-finals, second leg: Barcelona (Ec) 0 Universidad Catolica (Chile) 1 (agg: 1-4); Sao Paulo (Bra) 2 Flamengo (Bra) 0 (agg: 3-1); Olimpia (Par) 0 Cerro Porteno (Par) 0 (agg: 1-1; Cerro Porteno win 4-2 on penalties); Sporting Cristal (Peru) 2 America Cali (Col) 3 (agg: 4-5).

WEDNESDAY'S LATE RESULTS: Neville Ovenden Combination First Division: Tottenham 3 Swindon 1. Second Division: Torquay 1 Bournemouth 1. Corrected result (Tuesday): Jewson Eastern League Premier Division: Wisbech 4 March 1.