The Screamer: It's the talk of football

Manager Steve Bruce denied the 21-year-old has signed a pre-contract, and it is believed that any agreement will be void if Wigan are relegated this season.

But Bruce confirmed: 'We've had negotiations with Motherwell and opened discussions. We are keen on the player but that's as far as it is at the moment.'

Wigan and Boro were competing for £300,000-rated McCormack in the transfer window, but he chose to stay in Scotland for the rest of the season.

LEICESTER manager Ian Holloway is taking legal advice after claims from Plymouth chairman Paul Stapleton that he was responsible for a number of key players leaving Home Park in January.

Holloway faces his former club tomorrow and said: 'I am just absolutely astonished. I'm not going to comment on it - my solicitors are dealing with that in a professional and proper way.'

WOLVES' former Manchester United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has been charged with assault following an alleged incident outside a nightclub.

The 21-year-old was charged with causing actual bodily harm when he answered bail at a police station in Plymouth, Devon.

The incident, involving a doorman, is alleged to have taken place outside a nightclub in Plymouth's Union Street at 4.15am on November 11 last year while the striker was playing for Plymouth.

He was also charged with the public order offence of causing alarm, harassment or distress.

DERBY defender Claude Davis, 28, will undergo a knee operation today that could rule him out for the remainder of the season.

The persistent problem forced the Jamaica international to withdraw from the squad to face Birmingham, and he saw a specialist earlier this week.

Manager Paul Jewell said: 'He has come in for a little bit of stick lately, which I don't think he would say he didn't deserve, but he has been playing in pain.'

JOHN GORMAN and Jason Dodd have agreed to remain in charge of Southampton for the 'foreseeable future'.

Gorman and Dodd took over at St Mary's after former boss George Burley left for the Scotland manager's job last month.

Southampton are believed to be keen on Stoke's Tony Pulis but he wants to concentrate on the club's promotion challenge.

WEST Bromwich Albion have agreed a £2m fee with Hearts to sign on-loan striker Roman Bednar on a permanent basis at the end of the season.

Czech Republic international Bednar, 24, has scored 12 goals in 14 games to put Championship leaders Albion on course for promotion.

LEAGUE ONE Bournemouth were placed in administration last night for the second time in ten years. The South Coast club have debts estimated at £4million and, facing a 10-point deduction, look certain to be relegated in May.

NEIL McDonald, the former Carlisle manager, has joined Gary McAllister's Leeds as head coach. McDonald, 42, agreed a two-year contract in December as Peter Jackson's assistant at Lincoln City but his new job with Leeds is initially until the end of this season.

STOKE boss Tony Pulis has sent his son Anthony to Bristol Rovers on a three-month loan. Midfielder Pulis, 23, is yet to start a league game in three years at Stoke after being signed from Portsmouth

BARNSLEY have agreed to show next week's FA Cup clash with Liverpool live on a big screen at Oakwell. The move is an attempt to appease disgruntled supporters who missed out on buying a ticket for the fifth-round game.