Redknapp resists temptation so Ferdinand remains at Leeds

West Ham have turned down another bid to sell Rio Ferdinand to Leeds for #15m - despite knowing that transfers could be scrapped within a year. Hammers boss Harry Redknapp yesterday admitted that the central defender could walk out of Upton Park at the end of the season, but still decided to keep him at the club.

"Leeds have come back with another #15m bid and the news that transfers could soon be scrapped made it a massive temptation," said Redknapp. "I had a long talk with my chairman and we decided to resist again, even though in a year Rio could just walk out. That's what could well happen if the EC gets its way and bans transfers."

oLiverpool midfielder Gary McAllister must serve a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Arsenal at Highbury on August 21. The FA's disciplinary committee have decided to uphold the ban despite advice from the newly-formed video advisory panel that the punishment for the sending-off should be in line with that for a yellow card offence. Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, red-carded for two bookable offences, has had his ban upheld, and will serve a five- match ban.

oCeltic were yesterday remaining tight-lipped about stories linking them with Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. The 24-year-old Irish keeper was allowed to leave Celtic six years ago by then manager Lou Macari and was immediately signed up by Blackburn's Kenny Dalglish. Given is out of contract and Newcastle are said to be keen to recoup some of their investment, while Martin O'Neill has made no secret of his desire to buy another goalkeeper.

oJudging by this comment from Dunfermline goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek about his idol Neville Southall, Holland must be the home of the back-handed compliment. "When you used to see him on TV he looked so fat, yet somehow he managed to throw himself around and stop almost everything," said Ruitenbeek. "When I was a boy, I used to dream I was Neville. I would like to make the same sort of impact at Dunfermline as he did at Everton."

oBarcelona's Dutch defender Michael Reiziger could be in trouble with Fifa after embarrassing the Dutch FA with an astonishing outburst aimed at Roy Keane ahead of last night's World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

On his website, Reiziger suggested to his team-mates they should try a dirty-tricks campaign to get Keane, the Republic skipper, sent off in the Group B opener. He said they could take advantage of Keane's "dodgy temperament" by pulling his shirt, walking into him after he passes the ball or whispering personal comments to provoke him into a red card.

Reiziger later tried to pour cold water on the controversy. "Of course I want to win this important match against Ireland and do the best for my country, but I was wrong to suggest that one way of doing this was by getting a fellow professional sent off. I really don't like that part of the game. And Roy Keane is a fantastic player. I have nothing but respect for him."

o Celtic striker Mark Burchill last night said he hoped his goal in Scotland U21s 3-1 win over their Latvian counterparts can act as a long distance wake-up call for Martin O'Neill. The youngster returns to Parkhead knowing that with O'Neill buying former Hibs player Didier Agathe, he could find himself even further down the Parkhead pecking order.

But the player did not seem unduly worried about the Frenchman's arrival. "You need a big squad and it's a long, long season. I will have to get back to the club and find out what's happening."

o Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque yesterday admitted that Steve McManaman has no future at the club. Del Bosque confirmed that the England star has little chance of playing for the European Cup holders, adding that "with his high salary it would indicate that the player should look for a new destination".

Del Bosque also denied that he is facing a players' revolt over the sale of Redondo and the treatment of McManaman, the subject of an offer from Middlesbrough.

o Paul Merson claims he will have to go into management when he stops playing football to avoid ending up like former Manchester United star George Best. The Aston Villa midfielder revealed that watching a documentary about the decline of Best, who was recently admitted to hospital suffering from a liver condition brought on by years of alcohol abuse, has made him think hard about his own future.

"It hit home when he said he turned to drink after he finished playing football because he felt lost without the game he had known all his life," he said. "That frightened me. I thought 'I don't want the same thing to happen to me.' I can't be without the game. I would like to go into management and being a player-manager is something that appeals to me, especially as you are out there with your team."

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