FOOTBALL can be a real sickener at times but for Alex Bruce coming out for a game after half-time has been a stomach-churning experience.The Ipswich Town defender suffers from a rare medical disorder - I don't even know if it has a name - that makes him vomit when moving swiftly from a warm environment like a dressing room, into the cold.

FOOTBALL can be a real sickener at times but for Alex Bruce coming out for a game after half-time has been a stomach-churning experience.

The Ipswich Town defender suffers from a rare medical disorder - I don't even know if it has a name - that makes him vomit when moving swiftly from a warm environment like a dressing room, into the cold.

While not a particularly pleasant sight for observant fans, it is not very nice for the player either and it is totally involuntary.

Bruce has been seen doing it a few times this season, which had led to thoughts that his half-time cuppa had been tampered with. Or that he was sick of the idiots who have now moved on to Matt Richards to hand out stick to, now that they don't have Darren Currie, and before that Sam Parkin and before that - the list goes on. It just seems they have to have someone to have a go at.

As for Alex, he was given a sympathetic pat on the back on Monday while being ill by Simon Walton and Billy Clarke as they finished their half-time warm-up.

Hopefully his affliction didn't affect his night out with dad Steve, the Birmingham boss, and his mum as they celebrated New Year at a waterside restaurant in Ipswich on Monday night.

JIM Jeffries could be forgiven for thinking the fun has gone out of the game after being banished to the stands - for laughing.

The Kilmarnock boss, usually considered quite dour, raised a smile in disbelief when an assistant failed to raise his flag for an obvious foul, but the referee didn't see the funny side and dismissed Jeffries, despite Celtic boss Gordon Strachan defending his opposite number.

Jeffries now faces a two-match ban - and that is no laughing matter.

NOT sure if it is pure inspiration or desperation but Leeds boss Dennis Wise has turned to old team-mate Tore Andre Flo to help the Yorkshire side out of the relegation mire.

The bean-pole 33-year-old striker has been plying his trade in Norway with Valarenga but has joined Leeds on loan until the end of the season.

Wise has also secured Lomana Lua Lua's cousin Tresor Kandol from Barnet, turning his loan move into a £200,000-plus signing that will also benefit Dagenham who flogged him to the Bees for £50,000 and a sell-on clause.

Mind you Sunderland boss Roy Keane has been the most active in the transfer market so far securing Carlos Edwards from Luton Town for £1.4m and bringing in keeper Martin Fulop from Spurs for £500,000.

He has shipped out Liam Lawrence to Stoke City for a deal that could eventually be worth £650,000 and young keeper Ben Alnwick to Spurs for £900,000, which could rise to £1.3m.

Keane is quite happy to let Tommy Miller stay at Preston, who are keen to keep him, and Rory Delap has switched to Stoke permanently after being on loan since October.

Meanwhile, Barnsley signed goalkeeper David Lucas on a short-term deal.

The 29-year-old is new boss Simon Davey's second signing in as many days as he looks to turn the Tykes' flagging fortunes around.

Lucas will be eligible to play in Saturday's FA Cup third round clash with Southend.

IF you look really hard you will see Titus Bramble, along with Kieron Dyer, in the Hollywood film Goal! about a young American who eventually gets to play for Newcastle United, and snogs Anna Friel - lucky man.

But Bramble was nowhere to be seen on Monday when David Edgar did a real life version of the film and scored against Manchester United to earn the Magpies a draw.

The former Blues defender is being lined up for a move south with Portsmouth and Fulham prepared to pay around £500,000 for him.

Bramble recently suffered a worrying leg problem but is getting back to fitness.

FOR those of you who are hanging on to Christmas and still have your decorations up here is a bit of festive cheer.

You will be delighted to learn that the Ipswich Town black away strips have finally arrived and will be on sale as from tomorrow.

Be sure not to get trampled in the rush when the shops open tomorrow.