Sporting Digest: Football

PREMIER League clubs have agreed that next season players will wear squad numbers and their names on their shirts.

BARRI TOWN are to switch to the Konica League of Wales next season from the Beazer Homes League's Midland Division. The club will play their matches at Jenner Park, Barry, after sharing Worcester City's ground for the last two seasons.

IAN ATKINS has left relegated Cambridge United in acrimonious fashion after just 23 weeks as manager. The official line was that the parting was 'by mutual consent,' but Atkins, who only two days previously had declared his despire to continue in charge, said: 'I gave everything to the club and the players gave me everything . . . In the end I feel as though I've been stabbed in the back by certain people within the club.'

TERRY Butcher has started a clear-out at Sunderland after the club survived in the First Division by just one point. Peter Davenport was one of seven players told yesterday they were surplus to requirements.