SUNDERLAND'S plans to sign Colin Healy in time for Saturday's Nationwide League opener at Nottingham Forest were last night in jeopardy as the club became embroiled in a cash wrangle.

After 23-year-old Healy agreed personal terms with Sunderland and passed a medical, the Black Cats were waiting to find out whether they would have to pay compensation to Celtic for the midfielder.

Under FIFA rules, no money is due to an out-of-contract player's former club if he is aged 23 or over.

But according to the International Football League Board agreement that concerns deals between British clubs, Sunderland may be obliged to give Celtic a fee because he is under 24.

A Sunderland spokesperson said: "We have been in talks with Colin Healy and his agent to agree personal terms and he has passed a medical.

"The situation now is that we are waiting for his agent to confirm that he is free to move to Sunderland on a Bosman and that there will be no compensation due to Celtic.

"Celtic have referred his agent to the International Football League Board agreement, which governs moves between the English, Irish and Scottish Leagues, under which they say compensation is still payable for a player aged 23 years and under.

"FIFA regulations state that no compensation is payable once a player has reached 23 years.

"As there is a disparity between the two sets of rules, and as Colin is aged 23, we need this to be clarified before we can proceed any further."

Like his Republic of Ireland teammate Gary Breen, Healy is well short of match fitness after he was unable to take part in a full pre-season training programme following his departure from Celtic.

He would not be in the starting line-up at the City Ground in two days' time, but Sunderland are anxious to conclude the deal as soon as possible as Mick McCarthy closes in on a player he has been tracking since he took over at the Stadium of Light five months ago.

Healy was given his Ireland debut by McCarthy in a friendly international against Russia in February 2002.

But he did not play a single League game for Celtic last season, and was restricted to appearances in a handful of the Bhoys' cup games and six outings for his country. His last outing was in Ireland's 2-0 Euro 2004 qualifier with Georgia in Dublin eight weeks ago.

Everton, Aston Villa and Cardiff City were all interested in Healy over the summer, but McCarthy has snared his man - despite the delay in completing the deal bringing him to Wearside.

Breen won't be playing at the City Ground on Saturday - he, too, is lacking match fitness.

''It would be grossly unfair for me to play Gary on Saturday,'' said McCarthy. ''He's not had a game for two months, while the other players here have had five weeks' preparation.

''He's a fit lad and he's been training over the summer, but it's not the same as playing. To ask him to come in under that pressure and play when he's not right would be unfair.

''We've had five weeks' training and seven pre-season games - Gary has had none of that.

I've got to curb the urge to rush him into the side. It would be remiss of me.''

There was little movement in the Kevin Phillips transfer saga yesterday as the striker waited for other clubs, including Middlesbrough, to make a bid for him.

Southampton will not offer him more than £16,000 a week - around half of his current salary - and he would prefer to move to a club much closer to his County Durham home.

The Saints, who are expected to talk to Phillips and his agent this week, may ask Sunderland to contribute a sizeable sum towards his wages.

But the cash-strapped Black Cats, who badly need the £3m fee they have agreed with Southampton, would be loath to dig deep to facilitate Phillips's departure.

Talks regarding Thomas Sorensen's proposed £2.25m transfer to Aston Villa remain deadlocked, with the goalkeeper still believed to be looking for a pay-off from Sunderland of up to £500,000 before he agrees to move to the Midlands.

* Sean Thornton was yesterday named in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad for their friendly with Poland on August 19.

* Shaun Goater has been given the chance to say farewell to Manchester City supporters.

The 33-year-old striker, who joined Reading last week despite interest from Sunderland, has been invited along to the first match at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday.

Manager Kevin Keegan is hoping the First Division club's manager Alan Pardew will give Goater permission to attend the friendly against Barcelona.

Keegan said: ''I have invited Shaun Goater back. Obviously he can't play as he is a Reading player But he could walk on the pitch and say a final goodbye. I think the fans would like that.''

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