Football: Webb rejects Saints

DAVID WEBB, the Brentford manager, said yesterday that he would not be filling the managerial vacancy at Southampton. The former Southampton and Chelsea defender decided to turn his back on a return to Premiership football after talks with the Southampton chairman, Guy Askham.

In a statement, Brentford said: 'David Webb is to stay as Brentford manager and honour his contract which runs to June, 1995.' Brentford received more than 100 faxes from fans in four hours urging Webb to stay.

Alan Ball, the Exeter City manager, also distanced himself from the Dell job yesterday, saying: 'I've said all along that all I want to do is talk to them, hear what is on offer and what the job entails. That doesn't mean I'm on my way.'

Celtic have signed Lee Martin, the 25-year-old Manchester United defender, for a fee likely to be settled by a tribunal. Celtic may have to pay around pounds 500,000. Simon Coleman, the 25-year-old Derby centre-half, has moved to Sheffield Wednesday for pounds 250,000. Rod Wallace, the Leeds United striker, has agreed a new four-year contract.