FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

IT took him a while, but Derek McInnes finally realised his ambition

yesterday when he signed for Rangers from Morton in a #300,000 deal,

writes Ian Paul. The Greenock midfield player insisted, however, that

the prolonged negotiations did not prevent him giving of his best in his

series of farewell performances for the first division club.

''It was difficult at times otherwise,'' he said, ''because I was high

at one time and then down at another, depending on how it was going. It

is a big relief to have made the move I have always wanted. Obviously, I

would like to be part of the first team on a regular basis, but I know

that will be difficult. I feel I am capable of it, but it is up to me to

prove it.''

It is unlikely that his first experience of a Rangers shirt will be in

the Old Firm game on Sunday, but manager Walter Smith did not rule it

out. ''I would have no hesitation in involving him in that game, if we

had to,'' said the manager, who added that he had been impressed by

McInnes every time he had seen him.''

* GRAHAM Taylor yesterday bowed to public pressure and resigned as

manager of English first division strugglers Wolves.

Failure to beat a Charlton side reduced to 10 men for more than half

the match at Molineux on Sunday -- and a demonstration by angry fans

afterwards -- finally persuaded the 51-year-old former England manager

that he could no longer carry on.

After a meeting lasting several hours with chairman Jonathan Hayward,

club secretary Tom Finn announced that Taylor's 21-month reign was over.

Now speculation concerns who will take over with Chris Waddle, whose

England career ironically was ended by Taylor, and Manchester United

captain Steve Bruce among the names being linked with the job.

Taylor made a brief appearance before a packed news conference to say

in a prepared statement: ''It is with much regret that I have tendered

my resignation. I am sad because this has as much to do with matters off

the pitch as those on it. Obviously, the team has not been playing well.

But, only 13 weeks into the season, we are still in all competitions.''

As well as Waddle and Bruce, charismatic Coventry boss Ron Atkinson,

Millwall's Mick McCarthy and Danny Wilson of Barnsley are other possible

candidates for the post.

* ABERDEEN manager Roy Aitken yesterday revealed his main priority is

now to keep his born-again stars at Pittodrie. Seven first team players

are out of contract at the end of the season and he will use part of the

#2m available from their share issue and Coca-Cola Cup run to provide

new deals.

Eoin Jess, whose career has been resurrected by a masterstroke by

Aitken, will be first to be offered a record-breaking contract. Captain

Stewart McKimmie, sweeper Gary Smith, winger Joe Miller, defender Brian

Grant and keepers Theo Snelders and Michael Watt also feature in his

future plans.

Aitken said: ''I know excatly what is money is available to me, and

the directors will back any move I make to strengthen the team. But the

way the team has performed this season I do not see any real necessity

to bring in new players.''

* HIGH-tech communications equipment will supplement the referee's

traditional flag and whistle in an experiment at next year's Olympic

tournament to tighten match standards. FIFA said yesterday that linesmen

and women will wear electronic transmitters and referees will carry

receivers during the competition.

Linesmen will be able to send signals to alert referees to fouls. The

system will just be one-way. Referees will not be able to send signals

to the linesmen.

If successful, the experiment may be extended to other FIFA

competitions. The Olympic tournament takes place from July 20 to August

3.

Played last night

PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE

Hearts 3, Falkirk 2.

RESERVE LEAGUE EAST

Arbroath 0, Dundee United 2 (Hughes, Keith).

Brechin 0 Dunfermline 0.

Cowdenbeath 2 (Brock, Stewart), Montrose 2 (Smith, Stephen).

Dundee 3 (Anderson, Fisher, Cargill), Forfar 1 (Paterson).

East Fife 2, St Johnstone 6.

RESERVE LEAGUE WEST

Clyde 0, Stirling 1 (Farquhar).

Queen's Park 2 (Orr, Fraser), Hamilton 5 (McCloy 2, Lorimer 2,

McEntaggart).

ENGLISH FA CUP. First round

Wycombe 1, Gillingham 1.

Today's fixtures

European Under-21 Championship Qualifying: Group 6 -- England v

Austria (8.0); Portugal v Republic of Ireland. Group 8 -- Scotland v San

Marino (7.30).

Jarlaw Aberdeenshire Shield. Semi finals -- Fraserburgh v Cove Rangers

(8pm), Peterhead v Buckie Thistle (8pm).