DIVISION ONE

SUNDERLAND
Manager Peter Reid will travel to the World Cup in his search for four new players. ''There will be plenty of talent on show and we want to take a look,'' said Reid, who will be accompanied by his assistant Bobby Saxton. ''If somebody takes the eye, I know we've got the money to compete for them with other clubs.''

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Defender Shane Nicholson has failed in an appeal to have his dismissal by the club overturned. Nicholson was sacked last month after he admitted to an FA hearing that he used amphetamines. He appealed to the Football League against the Baggies' action, but they have backed the club. The 27-year-old former Lincoln and Derby full back has the option of launching a second appeal, but Albion chief executive John Wile said: ''As far as the club is concerned the matter is closed.''
Nicholson was ordered to appear before the FA last month because he refused to take a random drug test at the Albion training ground in February. After admitting that he used drugs, he was told to attend a rehabilitation programme and report back to the FA later this summer. He failed a drug test last year, but avoided a ban then by claiming that his drink had been spiked at a party.

DIVISION TWO

GILLINGHAM
Gills are still waiting for a decision by Plymouth defender Paul Williams on his possible move to Priestfield. Williams has had talks with Gillingham chairman Paul Scally, but is taking time to consider whether to join former Home Park teammates Mark Saunders and Mark Patterson in Kent. And the Gills are talking to yet another Argyle player, out of contract Canadian striker Carlo Corrazin.

NOTTS COUNTY
Chairman Derek Pavis will meet a leading leisure group to discuss an estimated £1m-plus investment in his Third Division champions. A spokesman for the club's financial advisers said: ''The group have already visited the ground and were very impressed with the preliminary things discussed.''
MANAGER Sam Allardyce has warned County that they will be several steps behind their Second Division opponents next season unless they get a scouting system developed. Allardyce is still waiting for approval to appoint a chief scout and is worried that playing against the division's big guns without expert analysis will cost them on and off the pitch. ''Fulham and Manchester City will have scouts at youth level in Nottingham, let alone senior, he said. That is what we are up against.''

WREXHAM
Goalkeeper Andrew Marriott will be in the opposing goal when the Second Division club face a Wales XI at The Racecourse today, (kick-off, 3pm). Wales manager Bobby Gould is bringing several of his top players to Wrexham for a match to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary and wants Marriott in Wales' goal in their final game before the mini-tour of Malta and Tunisia next week.

DIVISION THREE NEWS CAMBRIDGE UNITED Manager Roy McFarland has agreed to a new contract that keeps him at the Abbey Stadium until 2000. It brings the 50-year-old, who arrived at Cambridge in 1996, in line with many of his squad, who have also agreed new deals. A club spokesman said: ''The board, staff and fans are virtually unanimous in their belief that the club needs a period of stability.'' CARDIFF CITY The Bluebirds have signed 22-year-old defender Mark Delaney from League of Wales club Carmarthen Town. Delaney, who put his scribble on a two-year contract, said: ''I thought the professional game had passed me by. It is a great opportunity to establish myself and I am determined to make the most of my chance.'' SOUTHEND UNITED Defender Simon Coleman is being tipped to take over as captain at Roots Hall next season. Coleman has agreed a two year deal with the relegated side, having joined from Bolton late last season. Manager Alvin Martin said: ''Simon is an experienced central defender who has good leadership, that will be invaluable to other players.'' TORQUAY UNITED Head coach Kevin Hodges and assistant Steve McCall are re-entering negotiations to stay at the club. The pair have turned the Gulls' fortunes around, leading them to the play-off final at Wembley, where they lost to Colchester. Skipper Alex Watson is also in talks to stay while Jon Gittens is set to leave after contract talks broke down. UNITED are being linked with a move for Preston's out-of-favour striker Kurt Nogan. The Deepdale club paid Burnley £150,000 for him just over a year ago, but Nogan is now available at around half that price.

SCOTTISH NEWS GORAM COULD RETURN Andy Goram has not ruled out a return to international football, despite walking out on Scotland's World Cup preparation earlier this week amid lurid newspaper allegations about his private life. I've made my decision now, but if anything happens to the goalkeepers in the squad I'd have to look at it, he said. If it was a desperate situation I'd have to go back. I've made my decision, I've got to stand by it. But at the same time you can never say no. The goalkeeper, who will leave Rangers this summer, agonised for more than two hours, talking to friends and other members of the Scottish squad before he handed his note of resignation to coach Craig Brown at their training camp near New York. He said he made the decision because he feared the tabloid reports would prevent him from concentrating properly on his World Cup duties. "I could have just gone to France, collected my cash and pretended I was happy - but people who know me know I'm not like that," he said. "I'm 100% focused when I'm on the pitch - but when other things affect the team, then I've got to reconsider my situation. The last thing Craig Brown and I needed was more unsporting headlines. CLYDEBANK Clydebank and Livingston look set to call off their proposed merger. The clubs had plans to unite, but their plans were not presented at Thursday's meeting of the Scottish League and new League president Jim Oliver pointed out: ''As far as we are concerned, Clydebank will play in the First Division and Livingston in the Second.'' And it now looks as if Livingston manager Jim Leishman will move into a new role as general manager, with Cowdenbeath's Craig Levein favourite to become first team coach.

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