Berra deal is proving so fruitless

Wolves' protracted signing of Hearts defender Christophe Berra is no nearer conclusion after the player's agent admitted difficulties in contacting the club's Lithuanian owners.

It is understood Wolves have offered £1.5m for the 24-year-old recently-capped Scottish international. But there appears to have been no contact with the controversial Romanovs, who control the managerless SPL club.

"Christophe has just come back from holiday and I go to Canada today," said Berra's agent and former Hearts player Gary Mackay.

"Other clubs have looked at Hearts players and left it – we are dealing with the owners who are based in Lithuania, so it's a pretty fragmented situation. All I'm going to do is get an idea from Christophe once he has spoken to his family, being as he's very close to them, and see if he wants to progress things or stay at Hearts."

Meanwhile, Wolves fans face double inconvenience for their trip to Cardiff on Saturday November 1.

The match has been moved by Sky to a 5.20pm kick-off time, but visiting fans will also be subject to restrictions from South Wales police.

Fans can get into Ninian Park only if they go via official travel and buy their ticket at a designated place en route.

A similar plan of action was undertaken for the FA Cup fifth-round tie between the teams last season to prevent crowd trouble.

Wolves have signed five new scholars for their Academy. Defenders Mark Connolly, Jamie Reckord and Paul McCone, central midfielder Nathan Rooney and forward-cum-winger Nathanial Mendez-Laing are the new recruits.

"Three of those five are internationals and we're very much looking forward to them all coming in," said Academy manager Kevin Thelwell. "It's an exciting time for them."