From: tjc@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Tim Chown)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: English News: Barnet the next Swindon?
Date: 21 Aug 92 09:32:49 GMT

Barnet have been hit by a transfer ban and are not allowed to sign any new
players - on loan or permanently - until further notice.
The Football League have imposed the ban while investigations are made into
financial affairs at Underhill.  This is another blow for the Third
Division club, who suffered contract disputes and wage wrangles throughout
the summer.  A Football League spokesman said: "The
League would only ever lift an embargo if the problems that led to it were
satisfactorily resolved."

Barnet manager Barry Fry said he first found out about the Football League
transfer embargo when he made attempts to sign a player on loan last week.
"I tried to sign Dave Regis on loan from Plymouth last week and everything
was agreed between the clubs," he said.  "But when we sent the forms to the
Football League they said there was an embargo on us and we could not sign
anybody permanently or on loan.  "They didn't give us a deadline and
didn't tell us why - but obviously it's because of the problems we have had
during the summer," Fry added.

Manchester City manager Peter Reid is anxiously waiting for news on another
injury to unlucky midfielder Paul Lake.  Lake was carried off with a knee injury
in Wednesday's 2-0 Premier League defeat by Middlesbrough.
The midfielder was making only his second appearance since winning a two-
year fight against ligament injuries.  He is due to see a specialist and
Reid said: "I am keeping my fingers crossed for him. He is an absolute
diamond."

Crystal Palace's offer of #2.5 million is still on the table for Phelan but
Chelsea have also come into the bidding with a players plus cash offer.
Manchester City are also understood to have re-entered the bidding after
pulling out earlier this week.  City boss Peter Reid has sold defenders
Neil Pointon and Steve Redmond and now has Paul Lake sidelined through injury.
They may look to Phelan to strengthen the squad.

Saturday fixtures:

FA PREMIER LEAGUE

 1 Aston Villa      v   Southampton
 2 Blackburn R      v   Manchester C
 3 Manchester Utd   v   Ipswich Town
 4 Middlesbrough    v   Leeds Utd     *
 5 Norwich City     v   Everton
 6 Oldham Ath       v   Nott'm Forest
 7 QPR              v   Sheffield Utd
 8 Sheffield Wed    v   Chelsea
 9 Tottenham H      v   Crystal Palace
10 Wimbledon        v   Coventry City

    (Pools coupon numbers on left)

* all-ticket

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

11 Bristol Rovers   v   Brentford
12 Cambridge Utd    v   Birmingham C
-- Derby County     v   Newcastle Utd *
13 Grimsby Town     v   Watford
14 Luton Town       v   Bristol City
15 Millwall         v   Oxford United
16 Notts County     v   Leicester C   *
17 Portsmouth       v   Barnsley
18 Southend Utd     v   Peterborough
19 Sunderland       v   Tranmere R
-- West Ham         v   Charlton Ath
20 Wolves           v   Swindon Town

LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

21 Blackpool        v   Exeter
22 Bournemouth      v   Port Vale
23 Brighton         v   Bolton W
24 Fulham           v   Preston NE
25 Huddersfield     v   West Bromwich
26 Hull City        v   Chester City
27 Plymouth A       v   Bradford City
28 Reading          v   Leyton Orient
29 Rotherham Utd    v   Hartlepool Utd
30 Stockport Co     v   Burnley
31 Stoke City       v   Wigan Ath
32 Swansea City     v   Mansfield T

LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

-- Bury             v   Gillingham
33 Halifax T        v   Scunthorpe Utd
34 Lincoln City     v   York City
-- Maidstone Utd   OFF  Carlisle Utd
35 Scarborough      v   Crewe A
36 Shrewsbury T     v   Doncaster R
37 Walsall          v   Cardiff City
38 Wrexham          v   Rochdale