O'Neill pledges to complete his final year with Celtic

Martin O'Neill said yesterday that he would see out his contract as Celtic manager, ending speculation that he would replace David O'Leary at Leeds United.

The Ulsterman, speaking after a lunch in Dublin ahead of Celtic's pre-season tour of Ireland, said he had not even been approached about the Leeds job. "There has been no approach from Leeds and I want to see through the remaining year of my contract," he said.

On Thursday, the Elland Road club dismissed suggestions that they had approached the former England coach, Terry Venables.

The Rangers chairman David Murray is to step down. The Ibrox club's vice-chairman John McClelland takes over while Murray continues in the role of honorary chairman and maintains his 66 per cent shareholding.

The Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has turned down the chance to become Watford's new manager after failing to agree personal terms. The Scot opted to stay with the Third Division champions and not move to the First Division club because the money on offer, which was in the £200,000-per-year range, was not tempting enough.

Sturrock is settled in Devon but, while the move up a level appealed to him, the rise in his current salary was not worthwhile. Watford went for the former Dundee United manager as first choice despite speaking to Peter Taylor and Steve Coppell, two better-known names and both with local connections. Taylor is still tipped for a move to the England camp, but he and the former Brentford manager Coppell may now have a second interview next week.

The Everton manager David Moyes took a big step towards signing the Nigerian World Cup defender Joseph Yobo yesterday, despite late bids from three other Premiership clubs.

Yobo has spoken to Moyes about a £3m switch from the French club, Marseilles. However, Everton face competition from Bolton, Fulham, Tottenham and possibly Arsenal for the versatile 21-year-old.

Bolton are using the Nigerian captain Jay Jay Okocha to talk Yobo into considering them. Fulham's director of football Franco Baresi also wants Yobo, while Spurs are interested and Arsenal have asked to be kept informed.

Graeme Souness has admitted he wants to bring Dwight Yorke to Blackburn – but not at Manchester United's current asking price. The Ewood Park manager is keen to re-unite the Old Trafford outcast with Andy Cole, signed by Rovers last season for £8m. But Souness has said that United's valuation – believed to be around £6m – for the 30-year-old is too high.

The United States World Cup goalkeeper Brad Friedel has agreed a new four-year deal with Blackburn. The Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia is poised to sign a new contract that will tie him to the club until 2006.

The Italian Serie A side Brescia are close to signing the Ipswich Town goalkeeper Matteo Sereni, who joined the Suffolk club from Sampdoria last season. Brescia are also hoping to persuade the former Italian international Roberto Baggio to stay at the club.

The Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has failed to sign the Internazionale striker Mohammed Kallon. Bruce had been keen to sign the Sierra Leone international but Inter have now decided to keep hold of the player valued at £4m.