Albion chairman resigns after Megson criticism

The West Bromwich Albion chairman Paul Thompson has conceded defeat in the power struggle between himself and the manager Gary Megson.

Thompson, who has been in the post for 28 months, has announced he will quit the club as soon as a successor can be found ­ likely to take at least three months ­ after weeks of bickering and backbiting. He blamed constant sniping by Megson, who has been on the brink of walking away from the club himself, for undermining him and the board, and the lack of a decent scouting system ­ which the manager controls ­ for his decision to leave.

"When I became chairman, I said I would only stay in the job while I believed we could keep making progress," he said. "There are two key issues to which no one can find a solution at the present time and, in the absence of a solution, I cannot take the club any further. These two issues will cause damage to the club and will hold the club back.

"It is obvious from Gary Megson's comments in the press and from comments he has made to me personally that he wishes to see me step down as chairman and he has now got his wish," Thompson said.

"Public comments which Gary makes repeatedly result in almost constant public criticism of the chairman and the board which is totally unjustified," he said. "It is never acceptable for a manager to publicly criticise a chairman or the directors any more than it is acceptable for a chairman to publicly criticise a manager.

"We all have a hard enough job to do without public criticism being inflicted by our senior colleagues."

Tottenham Hotspur yesterday confirmed that they have finalised a deal with the Yugoslav club Red Star Belgrade to sign the Slovenian international midfielder Milenko Acimovic. The 28-year-old will sign a four-year contract after his free transfer is completed following the World Cup finals.

Blackburn Rovers are lining up talks with the experienced Russian international midfielder Valeri Karpin this week, after he turned down a new deal at his Spanish club, Celta Vigo.

Leeds United have denied reports that they have made an £8m bid for Feyenoord's Australian international midfielder Brett Emerton.

Kelham O'Hanlon is ready to team up with the former Scotland manager, Craig Brown, in the new managerial team at Preston. The former caretaker has opted to stay at Deepdale despite being overlooked for the top job.