Northampton Town manager turns down approach from Cardiff

Birmingham City have sold the 29-year-old right-back Gary Poole to Charlton Athletic for pounds 250,000, and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international forward Steve Finnan to Notts County for pounds 300,000. Another Birmingham reserve team striker, Jae Martin, is moving to Lincoln permanently for pounds 25,000 after a loan spell at Sincil Bank. The Everton right-back Matt Jackson is due to arrive at Birmingham on loan today.

The former Raith Rovers manager Jimmy Thomson has been named manager of the Scottish Second Division side Berwick Rangers. He succeeds Ian Ross, who left the club earlier this month.

Bradford City have signed two Swedish players on short-term contracts: Robert Steiner, a forward from Norrkoping, and Magnus Pehrsson, a midfielder from Djurgarden.

Ritchie Humpreys, the 18-year-old Sheffield Wednesday striker, has signed a five-year contract with the club.

The Northampton Town manager, Ian Atkins, has turned down an approach from Cardiff City to succeed Phil Neal as manager at Ninian Park.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach who led Brazil to their 1994 World Cup triumph in the United States, has been fired by Sao Paulo.

NATIONWIDE FOOTBALL LEAGUE Fixture changes: Sat 9 Nov: Postponed (international call-ups): Barnsley v Norwich (now playing Tue 12 Nov); Birmingham v Bolton (playing Wed 13 Nov); Manchester City v Oxford Utd (playing Wed 13 Nov); Reading v Tranmere (playing Tue 3 Dec); Stoke v Wolves (playing Wed 20 Nov).

BELL'S SCOTTISH LEAGUE Fixture change: Sat 9 Nov: Postponed: East Fife v Greenock Morton (international call-ups).

FA CUP First-round fixture changes: Fri 15 Nov: Woking v Millwall (7.45) (live on Sky Sports). Sun 17 Nov: Newcastle Town v Notts County (2.0) (at Stoke City FC); Northampton v Watford (1.0).

SWEDISH LEAGUE Final standings: 1 IFK Gothenburg 56pts; 2 Malmo 46; 3 Helsingborg 44; 4 AIK Stockholm 43; 5 Orebro 42.