NEWS: Former England striker Jeff Astle died from a brain injury sustained by the prolonged heading of a football, a coroner ruled yesterday. South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh ruled that the former West Brom striker died from a degenerative brain disease caused by the constant heading of a heavy, and often wet, leather football.
Football manufacturers said it was unlikely that the death of Astle would be repeated among today's players because the heavy leather balls had been replaced with lighter synthetic types. Astle died in January at the Queen's Hospital in Burton, aged 59.
Italian coach Giuseppe Dossena, who has been managing the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2004 Group 10 opponents Albania, resigned yesterday, saying the country's journalists had made his job impossible. However, reports said the real reason for the resignation was an offer to coach an unspecified African country.
Blackburn winger Damien Duff hopes to be fit to face Celtic at Ewood Park in Thursday's UEFA Cup third round second leg. Manager Graeme Souness said: "He got a kick on the calf against Aston Villa. It was touch and go all week as to whether or not we would play him (at Southampton), and in the end we decided not to risk him. He should play on Thursday, though."
Mark Bosnich was absent from training yesterday as he seeks to clear his name from allegations of cocaine abuse. The Chelsea goalkeeper failed a random test carried out by Sport England last week and his agent Jeff Weston confirmed yesterday that the Australian is taking legal advice. The goalkeeper is still awaiting the result of the B test.
Sven-Goran Eriksson said yesterday he will continue as England coach, ending speculation he might leave the post after Adam Crozier resigned as the FA's chief executive. The FA earlier appointed David Davies and Nic Coward as joint acting chief executives.
ENGLAND SQUAD GET-TOGETHER: Seaman (Arsenal), James (West Ham), Robinson (Leeds), G Neville (Man Utd), Mills (Leeds), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Leeds), Cole (Arsenal), Bridge (Southampton), Beckham (Man Utd), Butt (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Dyer (Newcastle), Thompson (Blackburn), Murphy (Liverpool), Sinclair (West Ham), Lampard (Chelsea), Greening (Middlesbrough), Heskey (Liverpool), Owen (Liverpool), Smith (Leeds), Vassell (Aston Villa).
