Football: Lightbourne opts for Coventry move

Thursday 03 July 1997 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Coventry City have beaten Sheffield Wednesday to the signature of Kyle Lightbourne, Walsall's Bermudan international striker, with the fee likely to be decided by a tribunal. Eoin Jess has left Coventry to rejoin Aberdeen for pounds 650,000.

Steve Sedgley, Ipswich's former Tottenham utility player, is set to join Wolves after talks with Mark McGhee yesterday.

Paul Bracewell, the Sunderland and former England midfielder, has followed Peter Beardsley in turning down the chance to succeed Lou Macari as manager of Stoke, who hope to sign Port Vale's Tony Naylor as a replacement for Mike Sheron, who has moved to Queen's Park Rangers.

Dario Gradi, the Crewe manager, has agreed a pounds 2m fee with Tottenham and Liverpool for Danny Murphy, the England Under-20 midfielder. "There's no pressure on him to go," Gradi said, "but if they want him to spend a season in their reserves first, then he might as well play for us."

The Football League could follow their Continental counterparts if the introduction of a long-term loan system is given the go-ahead later this month.

Foreign clubs already have the provision for taking players on-loan for up to a season and a similar suggestion recently received widespread support at the Football League's Chairmans' Conference in mid-June.

Existing arrangements, which will remain unaltered, allow five players to be signed in any one season and no more than two at any one time. However, the system could be supplemented by the introduction of new rules which would allow clubs the opportunity to take on two additional players on a long-term basis.

Chester's manager, the former Welsh international Kevin Ratcliffe, has hung up his boots after a career spanning almost 20 years.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in