Sporting Digest: Football

Martin Allen, the former West Ham midfielder, is heading for a move into management after holding talks with League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers. Allen, 32, now at Portsmouth, has been given permission to speak to the Cork-based club by his manager, Terry Fenwick.

Carl Asaba, the Reading striker, is to appeal against his sending-off at Queen's Park Rangers in Sunday's 1-1 draw. The dismissal followed a incident with Rangers' Danny Maddix, who was also sent off.

The French player Christian Karembeu has been transferred to Real Madrid from Sampdoria. The Spanish club will pay Sampdoria approximately pounds 2.4m for the midfielder.

Paul Parker, the former England defender, yesterday signed for the Vauxhall Conference club Farnborough Town. Parker, who made 19 appearances for England and was part of the side which reached the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup, has been training with his new team in recent weeks.