Jess may make move from Valley to Forest

Eoin Jess, the former Aberdeen midfielder, is poised to quit cash-strapped Bradford City for Nottingham Forest. The Valley Parade outfit are willing to let the player leave on a free transfer to remove him from their wage bill.

Jess has already had a meeting with the Forest manager, Paul Hart, but his offer was short of what the 31-year-old is already earning at Bradford, believed to be in the region of (pounds) 10,000-per-week.

The player has been asked to give Forest his decision within the next week as they prepare for the start of the Nationwide First Division kick-off.

Jess, who still has two years of his current contract to run, may now accept a pay cut to get back into first team action.

Vega and Gayle to leave Watford

FORMER Old Firm players Ramon Vega and Marcus Gayle are both on their way out at Watford. Vega, signed from Celtic by former manager Gianluca Vialli a year ago, has been slapped on the transfer list with the club willing to listen to cut-price offers of around (pounds) 250,000 for the central defender.

Gayle, who cost Rangers (pounds) 1m when he arrived from Wimbledon two seasons ago, has also been put up for sale by new coach Ray Lewington. Watford paid (pounds) 500,000 to bring the striker to Vicarage Road, but they will accept half that to sell him.

Injury worries for Scotland youngsters

Scotland were hit yet again by injuries ahead of an international tournament, even though the season has not started. The Scotland under-20 squad flew out yesterday for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup where they will face the Republic tomorrow and Denmark on Wednesday.

They left without Stephen Murray, of Kilmarnock, and Derek Riordan, of Hibs, who are both injured. Coach Ross Mathie called in Dundee United's Steve O'Donnell and Simon Lappin, of St Mirren.

Maldini calls it quits on international front

The Italy captain, Paolo Maldini, has confirmed his retirement from the national team despite an appeal by coach Giovanni Trapattoni for him to carry on.

Maldini, Italy's most capped player with 126 appearances, had said on several occasions that he intended to quit the Azzurri after the World Cup finals which ended on June 30.

Italy were knocked out in the second round by South Korea and Trapattoni asked Maldini to stay on for at least part of the European championship qualification campaign. ''I have thought a lot about the national side and my decision has not changed,'' Maldini said.

Smith snaps up goalkeeper Inglis

Paul Smith, the Berwick Rangers manager, has signed 28-year-old former Falkirk and Queens Park keeper Neil Inglis, who was with Rangers as a teenager.

Now the gloves are off at Shielfield Park to decide whether Inglis or Ross Godfrey, who was signed from East Fife, will wear the No. 1 shirt at the start of the season. ''Both will be given equal opportunities in the run-up to the campaign to show which one should have the gloves when the campaign in earnest gets under way,'' said Smith, who is stepping up his search for a striker. ''I missed out on a couple I had hoped to sign last week, but I still have another two in mind,'' revealed Smith.

Morrison set to sign for Birmingham

Birmingham are set to complete the signing of striker Clinton Morrison from Crystal Palace for a club record (pounds) 4m in the next 24 hours. The club are expected to confirm today that Morrison has agreed to be reunited with former Palace coach Steve Bruce.

The manager, currently away with City on their three match tour of Scotland, had initially been expected to sign Polish international Emmanuel Olisadebe from Panathinaikos in a (pounds) 3.3m deal, but that deal hit a snag over 23-year-old Olisadebe's wage demands which were believed to be around (pounds) 30,000 a week.

Palace are resigned to losing the services of Morrison, who is keen to try Premiership football.