Birmingham Evening Mail from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 27

TONIGHT: Slight frost TOMORROW: Sunny periods bunny per wintry showers: FULL GUIDE: Page 4 LIGHTING-UP 832 pm to 545 am INSIDE: Coif Table 1 Racing Mail Speed port? Mail ASTON fitness problems took a new turit today when sluppter Leighton Phillips went down with a chest Infection? and looks certain tb miss home game with Chelsea Definitely out will be left-back Gordon Smith who has a one-game suspension for totting up disripltomy points while striker Andy Gray Iras no better than a 50-50 chance of returning The better news on the Villa front was that midfield man Alex Cropley who was due for an operation today to have a pJale inserted yin his fractured leg may hot now need the eminent LONDON- The Billy Aird-John Gardner fight for the British heavy-weight title may not take place until October Aird has cold and their date for April 25 is off SOUTH CAROLINA: top-seed Martina Navratilova defeated Virginia Ruzici fig 4 in the first round of the teals tuornament at Hilton Head Island BIRMINGHAM: Villa fans were reminded today that that they will not be admitted to borne game against Chelsea without a ticket or a voucher Because of Home Office regulations on the London away games no nonticket holders can enter the ground Vouchers are being issued froqs Villa Park uatfl 5 pm tomorrow LEICESTER: Captain Brian Hall came through fitness test and uill lead his side against Gloucester in Satur John Player Rugby Cup Final at Twickenham WALSALL: Tony Macken has recovered from flu but teenager Ian Paul has played so well that manager Dave Mackey is expected to keep Paul in the team to visit Oxford on Saturday fuUy it injury Mail Spwts Reporter THE long-ranking battle for a player's right to choose a new clab when his contract expires emit end today dab chairmen woe boldine extraordinary general meeting of the Football Leagne in fond an and were exoected to agree on the final itickbg point This is file cash scale for compensating a dub When a player decides to leave them Last month the chairmen deferred a final decision are very nearly said League Secretary Alan Hardaker them Doc moves in as United turn-about by DAVID HARRISON MANCHESTER Unitei fraefiaaa of contract lastyear rOCKST Talks on tor subject kove been going on for msec than three years ami 'there have been frepaeat 'hhrts -strike action by the jiL 2er kjj men Dot whose current contracts Cud during the suararar jeortfi be negotiating with new dabs in time to play next seasaa and their present etnbs woald have to accept a set TCt rorajpenri float fee based oa the age wl wages- and experience IT'S THE DETROIT MONEY -SHHN ERS FOR TREVOR TREVOR Francis will happily remain with Rtrauashaai City for at toast ftp aext two years The super striker who has been anxious to leave St Andrew's is expected to announce hxs change of heart tomorrow It follows a unique transfer deal that ties him to a lucrative summer in America with Detroit Express the club established by world soccer impressario Jimmv HiU The England international will play some 17 games from late May until August before returning to continue his career with Blues Negotiations were completed last night after talks with Detroit manager Ken Furphy who flew in frexn the States to pull off the coup Francis chose Express in Tom mi Herbert) agreed to pa oi the never never am delighted to be signing ltd! again because he is one of the most colourful and entertaining characters in the game "His arrival bound to stimulate support for nest season This i the second time Dochert) has signed Hill He was responsible for the fgoQOO move from Mill-wall to Old Trafford preference to Boston managed by ex-Coventry and Peterborough boss Noel Cantwell The Blues chief Jim Smith was involved in the decision ith both clubs and said today: So far as I am concerned everything has been done to our satisfaction Negotiations were carried out in the best interests of our club to secure future wWh Delighted At most he will miss the first two or three games at the beginning of next season assuming Detroit reach the play-offs for the NASL Delighted HiH said: This Striker Nicky end deadlock ALBION are looking to young 'striker Nicky Lewis to break their FA Youth Cup semi-final deadlock with Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns tonight (7 pm) Lew is is named in a squad of 12 who will be seeking to join Aston Villa in an alt-I Midlands final of the romtei(tion A lack of forward power has been Albion's major problem this season and the return of levdi who has been i troubled repeatedly with Injuries could provide them tth extra punch Andrew Cow dell is also included in the squad while Tony Dawson and Stephen Chambers are omitted from 1 the team which drew 0-0 in Monday's second leg Albion have no initial first team injuries after their 2-0 victory over Newcastle last night is just the signing we wanted to make in our first season ft means that we wiH have the best player in American soccer It is a perfect arrangement We are happy Trevor is happy and Blues are happy have been able to give the player the best of all worlds He does not now have to go abroad full-time to era more money can pursue his England carreer in the Football League and inclined to think it will be at St enormous admiration and respect for Jim Smith and is encouraged by the strong indications that there are better days ahead for the Accepted Hill At the star! of our negotiations we fully accepted the fact that Trevor would not be prepared to come out to u-s until after he had fulfilled his international committments with England 1 Is no way I would I want to be seen to entice a player away from the honour and ambition of playing for his Francis is expected to make his Detroit debut against Chicago Stings on May 24 Detroit have begun the reason with two successive i away wins HIU said: "We already have a good team under Ken Furphy and Trevor will give us hat star quality the Americans demand He is a star and is detined to be No 1 am tremendously impressed with Francis He has come across as a man with great loyalty towards Birmingham Cit and their fans is also very ambitious to do well for England will do our best to help him in both directions" Hill would not confirm the £50000 reported as being the offer made to Francis by CHRIS MOORE THE future of English cricket was in the hands of the biggest -ever gathering of Test and County players at Edgbastoa today Every one of the 305 members of the Association was expected in Birmingham to discuss proposals for the boycott of all matches involving players contracted to Kerry World Series Cricket 1 On the road price with a host of features hiring ROAD TAX HEATED REAR WINDOW RADIALTYRES CLOTH TRIM 70J LOZELLS ROAD BIRMINGHAM I TEL 021523 9231 (Off Six Wiyt Aston) STRATFORD ROAD HALL GREEN TEL 021 744 1144 Cricketers Association secretary Jock Bannister confirmed on his arrival at the County Gound that he had been notified of a IN per cent tnru-pat of members He said: Without doubt this is the most important meeting in the Association's 10-year history The outcome could obviously have far-reaching effects on the Bannister however confirmed that two if top executives were being allowed to address the meeting at the outset brt would not be allowed to stay for the remainder of the meeting Linton Taylor programme director for television network in Australia and Andy Caro managing director of World Series Cricket were each to be given reasonable amount of time to put forward their If the resolution to outlaw Packer players are passed aid the players stand by their vote they could be In breach of their contracts with the counties More important they could also ugtrlnge the terms of the verdiict delivered by Mr Justice Slade in the Packer ICC and TOCB High Court action Inst autumn Worcestershire bowler Jim Cumbes said befbre going into the meeting: will be difficult to implement total bans against Packer players but at the same time I think it fs important to safeguard the future of Test cricket in this country is the point I am partienlafly interested in I think mbit of the tads have come here today with an open mind although we know there are several militants parang them I9be fact that several members of the England side have put forward the main proposals could obviously pat some weight behind.