Football: Ajax make move for unsettled Kinkladze

AJAX want to sign the unsettled Manchester City playmaker, Georgi Kinkladze, but nothing will be concluded this weekend, according to City's manager, Joe Royle.

The Dutch clubs have made an inquiry about the Georgian international, who has put in a written transfer request, but no move is imminent and a transfer has not been discussed, Royle said yesterday.

Kinkladze trained with his team-mates yesterday morning, following his recovery from an ankle injury, and will play in tomorrow's First Division relegation six-pointer at Port Vale.

Meanwhile, Royle will speak to the Sheffield Wednesday manager, Ron Atkinson, in the next few days in an attempt to extend Lee Briscoe's loan spell at the club. But the loan move of the defender David Morley to Ayr seems likely to fall through because he needs international clearance.

The Football League chairman, David Sheepshanks, has tried to allay fears that leading First Division clubs are about to form their own super league.

First Division clubs have denied reports they are trying to create their own breakaway league to try to bridge the financial gap between the Premier League and Nationwide League. But those sides likely to lose out if the big clubs did go it alone are still fearful of moves they believe would put their future in jeopardy.

However, Sheepshanks has invited representatives from the First Division steering committee and the newly formed Division Two and Three committee to a meeting next week to discuss the future - and is keen to make it clear that he believes that the smaller sides have nothing to fear.

He said: "Talk of breakaways and secret deals have been roundly refuted by Division One themselves and to my knowledge have no foundation whatsoever.

"I've written to all club chairmen urging them not to overreact and to find common ground so that we can complete the positive improvements that we are now close to achieving.

"Grassroots football in this country will benefit from a stronger and united Football League."