Sinclair to stay at Loftus Road

Trevor Sinclair yesterday brought a sudden stop to what was building up into the season's biggest transfer scramble when he withdrew his request and began negotiations for a new, improved contract with Queen's Park Rangers.

Stewart Houston had resigned himself to losing the pounds 5m-rated winger after the 23-year-old submitted a transfer request last month. The QPR manager viewed Sinclair's decision as the perfect signal to the Rangers fans that the club was as committed to returning to the Premiership as any of their players and supporters.

Sinclair's decision - it is understood that the club have effectively reached a compromise that he might be allowed to go if promotion is not achieved - will be a big blow for Spurs, Leeds and Blackburn.

Sinclair, who was "delighted" to say he had withdrawn his transfer request "after long, frank and honest discussions" will play in Sunday's London derby with Crystal Palace.

Cash-starved Nottingham Forest are ready to sell one-time record signing Bryan Roy after losing patience with the out-of-form Dutch international. Manager Frank Clark paid pounds 2.5m to Italian club Foggia for the 26-year- old striker in August 1994 and Roy's partnership with Stan Collymore helped Forest clinch a Uefa Cup place.

But his form dipped after Collymore's departure. He disappointed last season with eight goals in 28 matches and has made the starting line-up only three times this season despite Forest's slide into the bottom two of the Premiership.