Birmingham City are reported to be astonished that West Midlands police are looking to get the Worthington Cup second leg with Town moved. Yesterday police said they are worried about incidents hooliganism and want the Birmingham-Town game moved.

The club's secretary Alan Jones said: "I had no idea about this until I read this yesterday [Tuesday] - and I'm absolutely gobsmacked. Why and where this has arisen I have no idea. Police agreed with us that Wednesday, January 24th was fine when the draw was made."

Police are concerned that Aston Villa are playing Leeds the same night and are worried that with four sets of fans in the city there was the potential for trouble. Jones added: "As far as we're concerned we are not moving. We're to plan for the game on the 24th."

Meanwhile Villa are equally as stubborn saying that they will also not be moving their fixture.

The one-man rumour-mill that is David Johnson is excelling even himself currently with another link less than twelve hours after the last. Sources in Nottingham say that Forest's David Platt has admitted interest in the Town striker and may be about to make a £2-£3 million offer.

Whether there is anything more in this than in any of the other hundred or so stories of late we don't know. Looking at things from a purely Town perspective, however, we doubt George Burley would want to sell Johnson with such an important month coming up. Johnno may not be scoring at the moment, but he has a proven record and is the most obvious cover for Marcus Stewart should Town's current goal-machine get an injury.

Burley has also said on several occcasions this season that none of his first team squad is for sale and he is certainly not under any financial pressure to get rid of any players. Johnson signed a new contract at the beginning of the season which 'commits' him to Town until 2004.

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