Birmingham in Danger of Losing Takeover and Bruce

Birmingham City's immediate future appeared increasingly vague last night as the St Andrew's board contemplated the dual possibility that Carson Yeung's proposed takeover would collapse and that their manager, Steve Bruce, would join Wigan. The board will convene this morning at the home of the plc chairman David Sullivan with the terms of Bruce's imminent departure top of the agenda.

City have all but conceded that Bruce will move to the JJB Stadium but the board is anxious to retain Eric Black, the assistant manager. With the proposed takeover shrouded in doubt but still officially to be abandoned, it is also mindful of the difficulties to be faced in finding a new manager. In effect, the board would be asking any new man to take the job knowing he might soon have a new chairman.

That scenario appears unlikely given Yeung's struggle to finance the deal but confirmation that the takeover is dead may not arrive for a fortnight or so. Birmingham could hardly make an appointment during that period, accentuating the importance of keeping Black. Bruce is likely to argue otherwise.

News that the deal is on the brink might have been expected to make Bruce consider staying, but after six years at City he may want a fresh challenge. He has enjoyed a relationship with the Birmingham board which he has often described as "unique", but there were signs last season that those ties were no longer as strong. He was particularly upset about Sullivan's decision to sanction Matthew Upson's transfer.

Bruce had also envisaged signing a new contract after winning promotion but Yeung, the club's biggest shareholder after he paid £15m for a 29.9% stake in July, refused to ratify the terms that had been agreed with the board. Bruce held "positive" talks with Yeung three weeks ago but he continued to harbor concerns. Those fears are now likely to be rendered academic, with Bruce ready to agree a £2m-a-year package with Wigan's chairman.

Yeung, meanwhile, has failed in an attempt to extend the deadline. He had sought more time to complete the transaction but Birmingham have rejected his request, Sullivan standing firm on the December deadline set last month. A source indicated that there are doubts whether Yeung had the funds in place.

Tottenham Hotspur's coach, Juande Ramos, has insisted he will not sign players from his former club Seville, dismissing rumours that he would make a bid for Freddie Kanouté and the full-back Daniel Alves. "I respect the fans, the club and the players at Seville and I would only show any interest in a player from Sevilla if he was a free agent," Ramos said. "We will not be signing anyone who is under contract there. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings and I don't want anyone saying that I am trying to dismantle the Seville side."

Ramos added that he did not expect Dimitar Berbatov to leave White Hart Lane, but he was far from unequivocal on the Bulgaria striker's position. "He is a great player and I hope he stays, but I can't oblige him to stay - I want players who are 100% committed to the cause."

Chelsea are considering a £2.5m bid for Marko Pantelic of Hertha Berlin. The London club have monitored the 29-year-old Serb's progress for more than a year, tried to sign him last summer and have since made inquiries about his contractual status and willingness to move in January. His contract expires in June 2009. Chelsea's renewed interest betrays concern over a lack of cover, with Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba likely to be involved in the African Cup of Nations. As a regular for Serbia, Pantelic would have no difficulty in getting a work permit.

Brian Little, 53, is the new manager of Wrexham, second from bottom of League Two. He takes over from Brian Carey, who will work alongside the former Aston Villa and Tranmere Rovers manager. Real Sociedad have turned down an offer from Chris Coleman to resign as coach.