Royle sues City over dismissal

Manchester City are facing an embarrassing legal battle with their former manager Joe Royle, who is suing the Maine Road club over a remark made by Kevin Keegan about the timing of when he was first approached to become Royle's successor.

Royle, who was sacked by City in May this year, yesterday issued a writ in London against his former employers for "wrongful dismissal" and is also disputing the size of his pay-off.

Keegan admitted on the day he was confirmed as manager – three days after Royle's dismissal – that City had contacted him 24 hours before Royle was fired. Royle's legal team are planning to use Keegan's words against City to prove that Royle's replacement had been lined up behind his back.

Royle is also looking for a bigger pay-out than the six months' salary he was contractually entitled to. City paid him off on the basis that he was a First Division manager as opposed to a Premiership one, but Royle aims to prove that the club were still technically a top-flight club at the time of his dismissal.

The Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin's red card against Southampton has been rescinded by the Football Association. Dublin was sent off after apparently head-butting Southampton's Moroccan defender Tahar El Khalej during Villa's 3-1 win at St Mary's Stadium last Monday. But replays show there was minimal contact and Dublin has had his suspension overturned by the FA.

The Wolves manager, Dave Jones, has been named Nationwide First Division manager of the month for September. The Black Country club have made an excellent start to the season, winning four and drawing one of their matches.

The Brighton manager, Micky Adams, won the award for the Second Division, taking his newly-promoted side to second with four wins and two draws in September. The Third Division award went to Plymouth's Paul Sturrock after the Pilgrims climbed to fourth with five wins and two draws in their seven matches.

The Wolves striker Robert Taylor's misery at Molineux is set to end with a move back to his old club Gillingham. Taylor is out of Jones's side after a miserable season at the Midlands club, and Gillingham are trying to sign Taylor on loan first with a view to a bargain transfer deal.