Football Digest

ONE OF Eastern Europe's most exciting prospects, Stilian Petrov, has agreed to join Celtic and, providing his work permit is secured and he passes a medical, will sign for the Parkhead club soon, writes Ian Paul.

The 19-year-old international winger, seen as the successor to Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov, has already signed a pre-contact agreement that will guarantee his move from CSKA Sofia in a #2.8m move once the outstanding business is completed.

His CSKA team-mate, Milen Petkov, however, is not joining him at Parkhead. The 25-year-old international midfield man needs to be sure of first-team football to meet the requirements of the Department of Employment for a work permit, but Celtic could not provide it.

The midfield area is certain to be hotly contested next season, with Lubo Moravcik, Craig Burley, Paul Lambert, and Morten Wieghorst among the contenders. Petkov has other offers to consider in Britain, particularly from Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk hopes to bring his controversial Forest career to an end this weekend, the English second division side having accepted a #3.5m bid from Dutch first division club Vitesse Arnhem for the 29-year-old.

The deal could go through within 48 hours - although Forest will block any attempt the player may make to land a ''golden handshake''. Van Hooijdonk was transfer listed at his own request last year when he staged a three-months strike and Forest will argue he is not entitled to a pay-off.

BRIAN Dempsey last night urged Clydebank director Dr John Hall to contact him so they can start talks on building the club a new home.

The former Celtic director welcomed Hall's comments on Thursday, when he revealed that he has launched a takeover bid for control of the club. Dempsey and local MP Tony Worthington have already drawn up plans for a new 6000 all-seated stadium, to be built at Yoker.

Now he wants to hold talks with Hall to see if his proposals can be given the go-ahead. Dempsey said: ''The only difficulty there will be is funding a stadium, but I believe, with the support of local business, we could fund a 6000-seat stadium.''

Meanwhile, Clydebank manager Ian McCall's hopes of taking over at Carlisle United have been thwarted. The English side, who stayed in the Nationwide League by the skin of their teeth last month, have named Keith Mincher as their new coach.

Highland League strugglers Fort William have announced they are turning professional next season after being ridiculed on the BBC'S Auntie's Sporting Bloomers programme on Thursday.

Host Terry Wogan poked fun at the club, who ended the season rooted to the foot of the table with only four points from 30 games and a goal difference of minus 103. Their one victory came against Lossiemouth.

Club spokesman Michael Maceachen said: ''We are very disappointed in the way we have been portrayed. The last two years have been difficult ones financially for the club and for that reason we have remained amateur. Although we are not out of the woods completely, we believe things are on the up and money will be on offer to the players next season.''

They took players on loan from Scottish League club Inverness Caley Thistle last season with the result that goalkeeper Michael Rae and centre back Paul McDonald are moving to Fort William on a permanent basis. Fort William's points tally is not the worst in Highland League history, Inverness Clachnacuddin having registered only three points 10 years ago.