Football: Guivarc'h en route to Newcastle

STEPHANE GUIVARC'H, the France international, has agreed to join Newcastle in a pounds 3.5m move that will make him Alan Shearer's new strike partner.

Newcastle have agreed terms with the 27-year-old Auxerre forward, who is set to play in France's World Cup opener against South Africa in Marseilles today.

A spokesman for Guivarc'h confirmed that Newcastle had won the race to sign the Breton. "Stephane has said 'yes' to Newcastle; Auxerre have said 'yes'," he told ITV's World Cup Encore programme. "There is nothing now to stop the deal going through."

Guivarc'h has been the top scorer in France for the past two seasons and has been targeted by a number of clubs, including Rangers and Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.

Moving out of St James' Park is the defender Darren Peacock, who yesterday became part of Roy Hodgson's rebuilding at Blackburn. Peacock signed a three-year deal on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

The former Queen's Park Rangers centre-back links up at Ewood Park with other summer signings Kevin Davies, the pounds 7.5m former Southampton striker, and Gillingham's Jim Corbett.

Stan Collymore continued to feel the backlash of his assault on his now- former girlfriend, the television presenter Ulrika Jonsson, with calls for his sacking from Aston Villa fans and a warning that Diadora are reconsidering their sponsorship deal.

Andrew Ronnie, the Diadora managing director, who reportedly pay the striker pounds 2.5m over five years, said he was "amazed" and "surprised" by reports of the attack. "We will be reviewing the situation," said Ronnie.

Bruce Rioch has emerged as the favourite to replace Mike Walker at Norwich and form a partnership with his former Everton team-mate Bryan Hamilton, who is wanted at Carrow Road for the post of director of football.

The former Arsenal manager has been out of the game since he was sacked as QPR coach and was interviewed for the vacancy at Sheffield United.

The Bramall Lane club are planning an ambitious approach for Danny Wilson and believe he could be persuaded to leave Barnsley despite pledging his future to them on their relegation from the Premiership.

The Macedonian international Georgi Hristov has joined forces with fellow Barnsley strikers Ashley Ward and Jan Age Fjortoft in promising his future to the relegated club. His work permit has been extended for a further 12 months.

Aston Villa have been told by the French side Marseilles that Fabrizio Ravanelli is not for sale. It comes after the Villa manager, John Gregory, declared an interest.

Sheffield Wednesday insist they are still searching for a manager despite the claims of South Africa coach, Philip Troussier, that he has been offered the job.

The Wednesday chairman, David Richards, said they were still interviewing and stressed: "Nobody has been offered the job. Several candidates have been spoken to and we will keep interviewing until we decide on the one we want."