CORK CITY FC yesterday announced it was to join Manchester FC in a "twinning" arrangement which will see them serve as a nursery for young players for the English Premiership side.

Cork City spokesman Peter O'Regan confirmed that the club's directors finalised details with Manchester City officials and manager Alan Ball in a four hour meeting at Maine Road yesterday.

"What Manchester City want is to try and capture all the youth players in Munster south Leinster and south Connacht. They want to start a youth training scheme here with us as a means of fostering new players," O'Regan said.

Pointing out that a similar arrangement existed between Home Farm and Everton, O'Regan said the deal would also enable Cork City to bring over professional players from City for the 1996/97 season.

. David Batty is expected to complete his £4 million move to Newcastle from Blackburn over the weekend and then take a back seat. He begins a two match ban on Monday for accumulating 21 disciplinary points, which means he will not be able to play in the crucial Premiership clash with Manchester United at St James Park on Monday week.

Batty joined Blackburn for £2.75 million from Leeds in October 1993.