Warnock in clear over 'remarks'

Neil Warnock looks certain to avoid Football Association sanctions as the referee Eddie Wolstenholme has confirmed that the Sheffield United manager is not mentioned in his report following the infamous "Battle of Bramall Lane".

Serious allegations were made by the West Bromwich Albion manager, Gary Megson, in the immediate aftermath of a game which Wolstenholme eventually abandoned after 82 minutes – with the visitors leading 3-0 – because United were down to six fit players.

Wolstenholme had already sent off Simon Tracy, George Santos and Patrick Suffo, before both Michael Brown and Rob Ullathorne sustained injuries when Warnock had already used his three substitutes.

Megson claimed he had heard somebody in the Sheffield United dug-out telling players to feign injury in a bid to get the match abandoned. Such comments, if proven, could have had serious implications. But Wolstenholme, who is understood to have handed his report to the FA yesterday morning, said: "Neither manager will be reported. Nor will I be reporting any remarks from the technical area. Nothing was reported to me by the fourth official."

The Football League, who have the power to order the game be replayed, are unlikely to take that course of action when they meet on Thursday.

Portsmouth have placed 16 players on the transfer list as they attempt to cut their wage bill, but they clinched the signing of Svetoslav Todorov from West Ham for £750,000.

Two of the 16 are already on loan elsewhere, with Michael Panopoulos at the Scottish Premier League club Dunfermline and the striker Steve Lovell at Pompey's First Division rivals Sheffield United. Lovell, who has made nine starts this season and scored two goals this season, has struggled to maintain a regular first-team place.

Pompey want transfer fees for Lovell, Tom Curtis and Mladen Rudonja, while the other 13 players are available on free transfers. They include Scott Hiley, Ceri Hughes, Carl Tyler, Garry Brady and Thomas Thogersen.

The Wolves striker Adam Proudlock has joined their First Division rivals Nottingham Forest on a month's loan. The 20-year-old striker, who has just completed a four-match suspension, is set to make his Forest debut against West Brom on Friday night.