Chris Woods off to Colorado

Football

Football

Chris Woods, Sheffield Wednesday's former England goalkeeper, has signed for the Major League side in the United States, Colorado Rapids, on a two-year contract and is expected to play for his new team against Tampa Bay Mutiny today.

The former West Ham striker Steve Jones has completed a move back to Upton Park after a two-year spell at Bournemouth in a pounds 200,000 deal, which sees the striker Mark Watson going in the opposite direction.

The defender Greg Rioch, the 20-year-old son of Arsenal manager Bruce, has been given a free transfer by Second Division Peterborough United.

The Rangers manager, Walter Smith, was named Bell's Manager of the Year in Scotland yesterday, but only by one vote from Celtic's Tommy Burns. Rangers won the Scottish Premier Division title for the eighth successive year and are in the Tennents Scottish Cup Final against Hearts on 18 May.

Spanish League authorities plan to reduce the number of non-European Union players allowed in teams in the wake of the Bosman ruling which outlaws restrictions on EU players. Under the scheme, teams will be permitted three non-EU players on the field at any one time next season, but this will be progressively reduced to two the following year and one in the 1998/99 season.

The European Cup finalists Juventus have agreed to stay at Turin's Delle Alpi stadium for another season after threatening to quit and move to Bologna. Officials from Juventus and their city rivals Torino, who have been relegated to Serie B next season, met city authorities for seven hours to work out a deal which allows the two clubs to control advertising at the stadium and to pay a reduced yearly rent.

Jo Bonfree, the Dutchman who left his job as coach of Nigeria last month after a dispute with the African country's football association, has returned to take up his post.

AVON INSURANCE COMBINATION First Division: Queen's Park Rangers 0 Charlton 2; Watford 1 Brighton 3.

PONTINS LEAGUE Second Division: Bradford 1 Preston 3; Leicester 0 Hull 2. Third Division: Shrewsbury 5 Bury 0.