Gaudino faces fraud charge

FOOTBALL

BY TREVOR HAYLETT

Niall Quinn, the Republic of Ireland striker, yesterday completed his pounds 1.7m move to Sporting Lisbon, leaving the way clear for Manchester City to formalise the transfer of Maurizio Gaudino from Eintracht Frankfurt. The German club are expecting to hear today whether City are to make Gaudino's move permanent.

Yesterday Gaudino was charged with fraud by German prosecutors over an alleged scandal involving bogus insurance claims for luxury cars. The player denies all the charges. However, Frankfurt do not believe the development will hinder his pounds 1m switch to England.

The City chairman, Francis Lee, said he was hopeful that the club would be able to appoint a successor a new manager as successor to Brian Horton by the weekend. Bruce Rioch, who led Bolton to a spectacular play-off victory over Reading on Monday, is a strong contender but as yet no approaches have been made.

City's managing director, Colin Barlow, said: "He has not applied for our vacancy and we certainly have not approached him, nor have we approached anyone."

The bookmakers William Hill have closed their book on the manager's position at Arsenal after Rioch was backed down from 33-1 to 7-4 favourite.

The future of the Huddersfield manager, Neil Warnock, remains unclear after two meetings with his chairman, Terry Fisher. Warnock has left for a family holiday unable to confirm that he would be at the helm when Huddersfield return to the First Division next season.

"There is a mutual respect between us but we are never going to be the best of friends," Fisher said. "It's not just about money. It's more about Neil's quality of life and where he is going in the next few years."

The Premier League has been granted an extra 24 hours by Uefa to find three clubs to participate in the Intertoto Cup.

Pat Nevin has withdrawn from the Scotland squad for the European Championship qualifier in the Faroe Islands on 7 June through injury.

Eric Cantona has completed his 120 hours of community service after taking his 60th coaching session for youngsters last Friday.