Jefferies in talks with Bradford

Jim Jefferies had talks with Bradford City last night about becoming their new manager. The former Heart of Midlothian manager - who left Tynecastle just a week ago - met the club's chairman, Geoffrey Richmond, who is going through his shortlist of candidates.

Jim Jefferies had talks with Bradford City last night about becoming their new manager. The former Heart of Midlothian manager - who left Tynecastle just a week ago - met the club's chairman, Geoffrey Richmond, who is going through his shortlist of candidates.

Jefferies had been recommended by Tottenham's director football, David Pleat, who was originally Richmond's first choice for the vacancy. Jefferies made his name at Hearts with shrewd signings and good football, but he has never worked in England - apart from a spell at Berwick Rangers.

Richmond is fast running out of options and Jefferies could have a chance of being appointed if he leaves a good impression. Well-known names like Pleat, Ron Atkinson, Terry Venables and even Kevin Keegan have been mentioned and then fallen by the wayside.

The former Liverpool manager Roy Evans is also on a three-man shortlist, but insiders claim he has yet to be officially contacted. Howard Wilkinson's name has also been put forward, but he would have to leave his post at the Football Association and that is unlikely at the moment.

Struggling Wolves are ready to move for the Scotland defender, Colin Hendry, to shore up their defence. The Wolves manager, Colin Lee, and his assistant, John Ward, are to check on the veteran defender's state of fitness.

Hendry has only started one game for Coventry all season and his Scotland appearances are keeping him going in terms of morale and sharpness. Wolves could take Hendry on an extended loan. A similar move by Bolton collapsed last week because they could not afford his salary. However, Coventry are willing to pay some of Hendry's wages in order to let him go.

The Middlesbrough manager, Bryan Robson, is ready to sign the Finnish international centre-back Hannu Tihinen for £2m.

Robson has contacted Tihinen's Norwegian club, Viking Stavanger, about the highly rated defender after hearing of rival interest from Blackburn Rovers. Tihinen was at Blackburn last week, but has yet to commit to Graeme Souness's club, who also need to sell before they can buy.

The Middlesbrough captain, Paul Ince, is set to make his comeback for the reserves in tonight's game with Manchester United. Ince underwent surgery last month on an infected knee and has missed Boro's last four games, all of which they have lost to stretch their depressing run to six consecutive defeats.

Ince has been back in training since last week and if he can show he is somewhere near match fitness that could hearten the under-pressure Robson in the run-up to Saturday's increasingly important Premiership game with Leicester at the Riverside.

The centre-back Ugo Ehiogu, who tore a calf muscle just five minutes into his Boro debut at Charlton a day after completing his £8m move from Aston Villa, may also figure in the reserve game - as could Gianluca Festa, who yesterday had a transferrequest accepted.

Sebastian Rozental began his trial at Manchester City yesterday. The Rangers striker missed training yesterday after his flight from Argentina, where he has been on loan with Independiente, was delayed.

Aberdeen have made anofficial complaint about the referee, Mike McCurry, after their 2-1 defeat Scottish Premier League loss to Rangers on Sunday.

The struggling Cypriot First Division club Apoel Nicosia said yesterday that the former Norwich and Everton manager, Mike Walker, had agreed to become their new coach.