Football: Barnet facing walkout by players

BARNET are again facing a mass walkout of players over wage cuts. The manager, Barry Fry, was said to be on the verge of resigning after being told by the Third Division club's chairman, Stan Flashman, that staff and players would have to pay the penalty for the club's pounds 2,000 a week losses.

Saturday's away game with Lincoln will go ahead, but the club could face expulsion from the Football League if they fail to fulfill their next game at home to Crewe on 31 October.

Angry players, who are now set to put in a mass request for free transfers, issued a statement condemning the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football League for leaving them to fight on their own, after Flashman refused to speak to them.

Fry, who guided the club into the League two years ago, said: 'I have told the players what I was told to tell them. I'm going to have to think about things. The way I feel at the moment I have got to walk out of here before they carry me out in a box. All I'm trying to do is keep everybody together. You think you have done that and then something like this happens.'

The assistant manager, Ed Stein, said: 'I can't guarantee what will happen after Saturday. I haven't got words to express my feelings. It could come to a walkout - something has got to be done.'

The statement said: 'The manager informed players that the League had ordered Stan Flashman to cut pay and bonuses this week. The players are incensed. . . Barnet players think the latest bombshell entitles them to free transfers.'

With a transfer embargo already placed on the club after previous irregularities this season - the League are holding an investigation into the club - it could leave them unable to field a team against Crewe, and face possible expulsion.

Liverpool are the first club to be guaranteed a pounds 1m pay-out this year from the FA Premier League's BSkyB pot. All 22 teams in the League have already received pounds 650,000 and they collect an additional pounds 69,335 for each live television outing. Liverpool's appearance against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday was their third showing so far this campaign - and that figure will be doubled by the end of 1992.

Rod Wallace made a goalscoring return for Leeds United in a reserve match at Elland Road last night to improve his prospects of a place in the starting line-up for tomorrow's European Cup second round, first leg against Rangers at Ibrox. The match, against Notts County, finished 2-2. Steve Hodge, testing a calf injury, went off after 64 minutes as a precaution. The Leeds manager, Howard Wilkinson, will check his fitness today before the squad leaves for Scotland.

McClelland backs Leeds, page 33

Hunter Davies on Liam Brady, page 14