Barnsley want McCarthy back

Mick McCarthy will be offered the chance to go back to his first club, Barnsley, as manager by the consortium buying the Yorkshire club.

The former Republic of Ireland manager is wanted by the group of local businessmen set to be unveiled as the new owners. Barnsley are being rescued by the town's Lord Mayor, Peter Doyle, after their offer was accepted by the administrators yesterday.

A meeting between Doyle's group and McCarthy will be held this week to see if the latter can be tempted back to his home-town club. Doyle reached an agreement in principle with the administrators and will install some of his family on to the board, although the former chairman, John Dennis, may return in a day-to-day capacity.

The Yorkshire club went into administration in October with debts of around £3.5m. Players agreed to defer their wages earlier this month. Glyn Hodges is in charge of the team as caretaker manager.

The Leeds United midfielder Nicky Barmby is out until at least Christmas after damaging his Achilles tendon before Sunday's defeat at Tottenham.

Steve Bruce is trying to sign Ipswich Town's Hermann Hreidarsson. The Birmingham City manager wants the Iceland defender as one of three signings. Bruce is also looking for a right-back and wants Lens' Senegal right-back Ferdinand Coly.

Middlesbrough have won the right to continue their £7m claim against Liverpool over the transfer of Christian Ziege after an appeal court ruling. In May, the High Court dismissed their claim in relation to the August 2000 transfer, but yesterday Lord Justice Simon Brown said the High Court's reasoning had been unconvincing.

Middlesbrough are seeking £7m, about £2m on top of the £5.5m fee received for the German international plus more than £4m in compensation for other losses.

The West Bromwich Albion manager, Gary Megson, is ready to sell Neil Clement and make a move for Leicester City's Jordan Stewart.

Rangers are interested in the German centre-half Daniel Rosin, 22, but face a fight with Aston Villa to sign him. The Glasgow club have taken Rosin for a week's training from the German Second Division side Alemannia Aachen.

Fulham travel to Germany to take on Hertha Berlin in the first leg of a third-round Uefa Cup tie tonight without Barry Hayles. The striker is suffering pain in his neck vertebrae, which could rule him out for months. He is having a fortnight's rest before the club doctors decide if surgery is needed. Luis Boa Morte is fit after a thigh problem, but Sylvain Legwinski is out with a back injury.