Blades want Kenny to commit

Sheffield United are hoping to reach a compromise with goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after he turned down the offer of a two-year contract extension.

The club is optimistic Kenny will agree to stay beyond the end of his present deal, which expires in summer 2007, but he is seeking better terms.

Manager Neil Warnock told the Yorkshire Post: “Paddy wants to stay and we have offered him a two-year extension – but he thinks he warrants a better deal.

“I am sure we can reach an agreement that suits both sides.”

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill admits he is unlikely to sign a replacement for injured goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

The Wales international, who had been first-choice this term, is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury, leaving Brian Jensen as Cotterill’s only senior goalkeeper.

Cotterill’s stance suggests Saul Deeney, who has been training with the Clarets this week, will not be offered a contract.

He said: “We‘re probably going to go with what we‘ve got at the moment. We went with Brian last year and I don‘t think we‘ve really got money to use up on a goalkeeper that we might not use.”

Bournemouth chairman Peter Phillips claims he and the rest of the board could quit if the proposed sale of Dean Court falls through.

The Cherries are in talks with a London-based property company, who are proposing to buy the ground and lease it back to the club.

The money raised from the sale would then be used to service a reported debt of around £6m (€8.8m), while Bournemouth would also be allowed to buy back the ground once their finances are back in order.

The plan has apparently not gone down well with members of the supporters’ trust, Community Mutual, who could have the casting vote on the sale, but Phillips insists that any veto could have dire consequences.

“If the CM decide to vote against then the position of everybody on the board becomes untenable,” he told the Echo. “There is no dispute within the board that this deal is right for the club.”

Southend teenager James Lawson has been rewarded for his impressive start to the season at Roots Hall with his first professional contract.

The 18-year-old striker was drafted into the side due to Wayne Gray’s injury and a suspension to Freddy Eastwood and ended up keeping both on the bench following two goals in four starts,

He has committed himself to the Shrimpers until the end of next season.

Oldham have rewarded promising teenage striker Chris Hall with his first professional contract. The 6ft 3in 18-year-old has accepted a new deal that keeps him at Boundary Park until June 2008.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock’s hopes of landing a striker on loan in time for the trip to Plymouth have been dashed by illness.

The Owls boss was convinced he would complete a loan deal for an unnamed player to boost his striking options ahead of the clash against his former club at Home Park, but the move has fallen through at the last minute.

MK Dons have put a £500,000 (€731,600) price tag on Clive Platt amid further speculation Sheffield Wednesday are back in the hunt for the striker.

Sturrock enquired about former Peterborough man Platt in the summer.

Bristol City have clinched the loan signing of Charlton defender Kelly Youga.

The 20-year-old left-back has struggled to break into the Addicks’ first team since his arrival from French champions Lyon in the summer and will hope to make and impact at Ashton Gate during his month-long stay.

Blackpool have secured the services of Sheffield United defender Chris Armstrong on a month’s loan.

The 23-year-old left-back trained for the first time with Colin Henry’s squad on Thursday and is set to make his debut in Saturday’s game at Barnsley.