The one-time Socceroo's current deal expires this summer but he was recently ruled out for nine months with a knee injury.

BIRMINGHAM have been hit by the news David Murphy will miss the final two matches in their bid for automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship with a broken knee cap.

The left-back was caught in a collision during the closing stages of Saturday's crucial 1-0 win at Watford and will now watch the matches with Preston and Reading.

Manager Alex McLeish hopes to have Murphy back for pre-season.

He told Birmingham's official website, www.bcfc.com: "He's going to get it pinned and we believe he could be back for the start of pre-season.

"We are disappointed for David, but we have coped admirably with the absences in the past and now there is a chance for Djimi Traore to show all his massive experience."

Striker Lee Hughes would be keen to join BLACKPOOL on a permanent basis from Coca-Cola League One side Oldham.

Hughes is currently on loan at Bloomfield Road until the end of the season but is already eyeing up the prospect of staying with the Coca-Cola Championship side after one goal in three appearances.

He told Blackpool's official website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk. "If they were to want to sit down and chat I would be very interested."

CRYSTAL PALACE boss Neil Warnock has once again cooled rumours he is being lined up to become the next manager of IPSWICH.

Current Town boss Jim Magilton has come under fire at Portman Road and Warnock has been touted as a potential replacement should the Northern Irishman depart.

"It's all hypothetical," Warnock told the Croydon Guardian.

"It was QPR last week, Ipswich this week and I won't be commenting even if it is Manchester United next week."

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY have taken up the option of extending striker Leon Clarke's current contract for another year. The 24-year-old has scored eight times this season.

Chairman Milan Mandaric insists that League One champions LEICESTER will not listen to any offers for top scorer Matty Fryatt, who has scored 31 times this season.

"Matty Fryatt is our player," Mandaric told Sky Sports News.

"He has signed a new contract. I know he is happy here and we are not interested to sell him. We will reject those offers."

Kevin Gall is to leave CARLISLE in search of first-team football after an agreement was reached to terminate his contract.

The striker made more than 75 appearances for the Cumbrians, scoring 11 goals.

WALSALL have offered professional contracts to three of their highly-rated youngsters - Sam Adkins, Darryl Westlake and Will Grigg.

MILLWALL striker Gary Alexander has had his weekend red card for deliberate handball at Bristol Rovers rescinded following an appeal to the Football Association.

Former vice-chairman Raj Singh has tabled a bid for Coca-Cola League Two club DARLINGTON - but threatened administrators that he will walk away if the offer is not accepted by the end of the week.

He told the Darlington Evening Gazette: "It has already dragged on long enough, and that is why we need decisions to be made now."

Meanwhile, the Quakers' All-Star fundraising game on Sunday, May 3 will clash with Newcastle's crucial relegation encounter against Liverpool after Setanta moved the kick-off time of the Premier League game.

Captain Rhys Day, Rob Elvins and Junior Mendes will leave ALDERSHOT this summer after being told their contracts will not be renewed.

MORECAMBE have received a double boost after Wayne Curtis and Fraser McLachlan agreed new one-year deals with the club.