MICHAEL GRAY is to end his 11-year spell at Sunderland. Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough have all expressed an interest in the former England defender. The 28-year-old full back will be sold once the relegated club receives an offer that matches its £1.5 million valuation of its club captain.

Jurgen Macho has agreed to leave Wearside and join Chelsea as back-up goalkeeper to Carlo Cudicini. The 25-year-old Austrian, who was transfer-listed by Peter Reid last summer but subsequently performed admirably for Sunderland when injuries struck Thomas Sorensen and Thomas Myhre, will head for London on freedom of contract.

David O’Leary will make Roy Aitken his assistant manager at Aston Villa. The former Scotland and Celtic defender previously worked as a coach under O’Leary at Leeds United.

Massimo Maccarone, the Italy striker, has pledged his future to Middlesbrough. The 23-year-old forward endured a difficult first season at the Riverside Stadium, scoring nine goals but experiencing a severe dip in form, amid repeated speculation that he would return to Serie A. “I’ll stay in England because I know I have a lot more to offer,” Maccarone said.

Jim McCahill was named the new chairman of Leicester City yesterday and promptly said that he expected to secure the signature of Micky Adams, the manager, on an extended contract. The final act by Jon Holmes as McCahill’s predecessor was to refuse Aston Villa permission to speak to Adams, who led Leicester to promotion back to the Barclaycard Premiership in his first full season.

Holmes informed Adams, who has one year remaining on his present contract, of Villa’s approach on Sunday night but the former Brighton and Hove Albion manager confirmed yesterday that he is happy to extend his stay with Leicester.

McCahill, 64, said: “I’ve been very encouraged by the talks we’ve held so far and we are hopeful and optimistic of concluding our negotiations within the near future.”

Adams said: “It was never the case I was going to walk out on Leicester City because I’m an honourable man and if permission to speak was not given I’m not going to throw my toys out of the pram. I’m as happy today being manager of Leicester as I was when I first walked through the door.”