BIRMINGHAM CITY
St Andrews chairman David Gold is hoping to persuade Steve Bruce to turn his back on Norwich, who have approached the 37-year-old about the managerial vacancy at Carrow Road. The Blues skipper has just signed a new 12-month contract with the club and Gold is desperate for him to lead the team next season.
I don't want to lose him and neither does anyone else connected with Birmingham City, he said. I know that he is desperate to play on for another season and I am sure that he realises that his best chances of reaching the Premiership will be by staying with us. It is a very romantic scenario for Steve as he became a big favourite at Norwich and it is an exciting prospect for him to go back as their player-manager.
Gold will do his utmost to talk Bruce into staying in the Midlands, but it's debatable whether manager Trevor Francis shares his desperation to keep the former Manchester United star. Bruce is seen as a natural successor should the Blues not mount a promotion challenge from the off next season.

STOCKPORT COUNTY
The club has turned down another Southampton raid - but this time it wasn't for a player. Former manager Dave Jones took Paul Jones and Lee Todd to the Dell, but this time it was marketing manager Steve Bellis, who was offered double his Edgeley Park salary to go south. But the life-long Stockport supporter insisted: My family and County come first.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Goalkeeper Alan Miller is getting fat and he couldn't be happier. The 28-year-old is putting weight back on after the problems following his hernia operation earlier this month, when he lost more than a stone in weight after a blood clot and an abscess complicated his recovery.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Winger Tony Daley has taken the first steps to kick-starting his career. The ex-England wide man, available on a free transfer, has already had talks with two mystery clubs as he seeks to put a catalogue of injury problems behind him.

DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP COLCHESTER UNITED Veteran defender Peter Cawley and youngster Danny Potter have been given free transfers. Cawley, 32, has spent six years at Layer Road while Potter has had just one season as a professional. Manager Steve Wignall said: I am grateful to the board for letting me keep most of the squad together and now I can go about adding to it. LINCOLN CITY The newly-promoted Imps will face Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday in pre-season friendlies at Sincil Bank. Both FA Carling Premiership clubs have confirmed they will field their first teams in the games in July. WALSALL Winger John Hodge has yet to finalise his future as he prepares for further talks at Bescot. The former Swansea City said: I am not unhappy, but I am out of contract and obviously open to offers. WREXHAM Manager Brian Flynn has pledged his future to the club after talks with both Burnley and Norwich. He said: A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work here and I want to see that through.

DIVISION THREE ROUND-UP BRENTFORD Striker Niall Thompson, who returned home to Canada after the end of the season, is still on the goalscoring trail. The Toronto-born forward hit the only goal in his country's 1-0 friendly win over Macedonia - only the fourth time they've beaten a European country this century. CAMBRIDGE UNITED The U's have admitted they are resigned to losing young prospect Billy Beall to Leyton Orient. The 20-year-old midfielder and his club have pencilled in discussions about a new contract, but Abbey officials are not optimistic. Secretary Steve Greenall said: We have tried all we can to get Billy to stay. Orient are saying they have agreed a deal but the ball is still in his court. HARTLEPOOL Captain Russell Bradley has quit because he was fed-up with making a six-hour round trip from his Derby home for training. The defender will join non-league Hednesford and Pool coach Brian Honour said: Russell has been tremendous for us, but it's no good keeping an unhappy player.

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