Sport in Short: Football

KIT SYMONS, Portsmouth's Welsh international defender, who was a target of several Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool, has signed a new contract will keep him at Fratton Park for the next two and a half years. The club also completed the pounds 50,000 signing of the 32-year-old Blackburn defender, Chris Price, yesterday and he goes straight into the side for today's First Division match at Barnsley.

DAVID PLATT'S return from injury has been delayed a further week by the Juventus coach, Giovanni Trapattoni. The England midfield player was hoping to play for Juventus against Cagliari tomorrow, but Trapattoni was not satisfied with his fitness following a practice match on Thursday. Platt is still recovering from last November's cartilage operation on his left knee.

SAMMY CHUNG, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, has been dismissed as manager of the Beazer Homes League side, Tamworth.

BARNET'S appeal against a pounds 50,000 fine imposed by the Football League after being found guilty of book-keeping irregularities will be heard on Tuesday at Tottenham Hotspur.

A winding-up order made against Hartlepool United nine days ago was yesterday rescinded by a High Court judge.

TIM WARD, the former Derby County manager, has died, aged 75. Ward, who spent eight seasons as a Derby player and won two England caps, returned to the Baseball Ground as manager in the early 1960s.

EIGHT players of Albania's Under-16 team sought asylum in Portugal yesterday. The other members of the squad left for home after losing 3-1 to Portugal in a qualifier for the European Under-16 Championship in Lisbon on Wednesday.