Football: Notts County sack manager after poor start: Walker pays a heavy price while Gemmill kicks off the Rotherham revival with his old pal from Derby's glory, glory days

(First Edition)

NOTTS COUNTY have set about solving their early-season problems by sacking their manager, Mick Walker.

County, third from bottom of the First Division with just one league win to their credit, took the decision after an emergency board meeting at Meadow Lane. Walker's assistant, Russell Slade, has been appointed to a caretaker role, with Wayne Jones acting as his No 2.

Rotherham United also have a new management team in place, with the aim of moving up to the First Division. Archie Gemmill and John McGovern have signed two-year contracts as manager and assistant respectively.

Gemmill said: 'Our hope would be to take the club up to the next division - that is our immediate priority. After that, who knows?'

The former Scottish international said he had been given an assurance that there would be 'a little bit' to spend on new players. 'We have to generate our own funds by having a winning team on the pitch,' he said. His former Forest team-mate, McGovern, resigned as assistant manager of Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

Ken Booth, the Rotherham chairman, said that the former manager, Phil Henson, would become the chief executive, taking over some of the duties performed by the chairman.

Ian Wright, the Arsenal striker, was yesterday fined pounds 750 by the Football Association for making gestures to fans at last season's game at Queen's Park Rangers. It was the last news Wright wanted to hear on the eve of his club's European Cup-Winners' Cup tie with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.

In addition to the fine, the FA also wrote to him yesterday asking for his observations on his description of the referee, Robbie Hart, as a 'muppet' after last Saturday's match at Norwich City. The goalless draw ended with seven bookings, including one for Wright.

That booking was his fourth in as many matches - and if Wright is found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, the out-of-form player, already close to a suspension, could face a ban and another heavy fine.

His pocket, however, is already lighter after the FA ruled that he had been found guilty of improper behaviour towards spectators at the Queen's Park Rangers v Arsenal game at Loftus Road on 27 April this year. Wright apparently made gestures to supporters at half time in the match, which was drawn 1-1.

Coventry City have completed the signing of the United States international winger, Cobi Jones. The Professional Footballers' Association had originally objected to the move, but the Department of Employment has informed the club that a work permit will be issued. Coventry hope to complete the formalities in time for Jones to make his debut against Leeds on Saturday.

The new faces at Celtic are in the boardroom. Patrick Ferrell has become marketing director while Eric Riley has become the finance director. There will be more additions made in the coming weeks.

Fergus McCann, who was reappointed managing director at the club's annual general meeting, said: 'We hope to have a well balanced board and one which is responsible for its own operation.' At a specially-held EGM before the main meeting on Tuesday, the veteran director, Jimmy Farrell, was voted out.

David Linighan, the Ipswich Town player, has agreed a one-year contract with the club. The centre-back lost the club captaincy at the start of the season after opting to go on a weekly deal.