Walsall reluctantly part company with Graydon

Ray Graydon yesterday became the 33rd English manager to leave his job this season when Walsall finally parted company with the former Aston Villa winger. Graydon had been in charge at the Bescot Stadium since May 1998 and led the side to promotion to the First Division via the play-offs last season. But the club have struggled this season and are 22nd in the table.

"This is a very sad day for myself, leaving so many good friends and colleagues," Graydon said. "My staff and players have given me terrific support and loyalty."

The club's owner, Jeff Bonser, paid tribute to Graydon: "Ray has managed the club for the past three-and-a-half years, achieved two promotions and provided us with the greatest day in our history at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, 27 May, 2001 [the Second Division play-off final]. It is the most difficult decision that any of us involved with Walsall Football Club have ever had to make."

The club's director of football, Paul Taylor, has also tendered his resignation, but is expected to stay until a successor is found.

Ossie Ardiles, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager and World Cup winner, wants to fill the managerial vacancy at Derby County. "I want the job at Derby and I want to keep them up," the Argentinian said. Derby, who sacked Colin Todd last week three months into the job, are second from bottom of the Premiership.

Ardiles, who won the World Cup as a player in 1978, was in charge at Tottenham, where he spent his best years as a player, from 1993 to 1994. However, he was sacked 16 months into the job.

He has also managed Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Swindon Town, and worked in Saudi Arabia and Japan. "My record in this country is good. Remember what I achieved with West Brom and Swindon with very little money and yet managed to get them both promoted playing good football," Ardiles said.

Roy Hodgson, who left Udinese in December, has also expressed an interest in the job.

The former Huddersfield vice-chairman David Taylor and his consortium have completed a takeover of the club. Taylor will head a new four-man board.

Benito Carbone has returned to Bradford from a loan spell at Derby. The Italian is in talks with Bradford about a settlement on the rest of his contract. He is due almost £3m in outstanding wages.

Crystal Palace are making a £3.9m double move for the Leicester striker Ade Akinbiyi and the Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown. Palace hope to close a £2.9m deal for Akinbiyi by the weekend and have offered £1m for Brown, which has yet to be accepted.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed the goalkeeper Paul Heald on loan from fellow First Division side Wimbledon while Hibernian have completed the signing on a free transfer of the Finland international Jarkko Wiss from Stockport County.

John Fashanu's Winners World Wide consortium has moved a step closer to taking over Northampton Town after the borough council agreed in principle to its proposals. The two parties had disagreed over the future of the Sixfields Stadium, but the council is now awaiting a consultancy report before holding final negotiations.

* The Ghana and Bayern Munich defender Samuel Kuffour has been sent home from the African Nations' Cup in Mali by the national team coach, Fred Duodu, for "indiscipline". He is the third player to be sent home from the tournament after Egypt and Morocco expelled a player each over the weekend under similar circumstances.