Hoddle hints at signings

The Tottenham manager, Glenn Hoddle, last night revealed he is closing in on two new signings after watching his side lose 2-1 in a friendly against AEK Athens in Greece.

"I will make two additions to the team before the start of the season, a goalkeeper and a central defender," Hoddle said.

Spurs have been linked with a move for Southampton defender Dean Richards.

A row over television money could end with a complete shut-down of Premiership football. The Professional Footballers' Association insists it has the backing of all 92 clubs for possible strike action.

The row centres on the recent £1bn television deal the Premiership has agreed with Sky and ITV. Previous deals have seen the PFA allocated five to 10 per cent of the contract and have been discussed six months before the start of a new contract. But the PFA chairman, Gordon Taylor, is said to be furious as the Premiership has said only that the matter would be discussed at a meeting of the Premiership chairmen on 19 August.

The Ipswich captain, Matt Holland, has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's friendly against Croatia at Lansdowne Road with knee and ankle injuries.

The Bayern Munich midfielder Mehmet Scholl has withdrawn from Germany's squad for Wednesday's friendly in Hungary. The 30-year-old faces a fight for fitness with the crucial World Cup qualifier against England less than three weeks away. Also out are the Bayer Leverkusen duo of the midfielder Michael Ballack and the centre-back Jens Nowotny.