Alex Ferguson has prised away Sunderland's reserve team coach Ricky Sbragia to take up the same position at Manchester United.
Ferguson had been looking to fill the role for several months so that Mike Phelan can concentrate on working with the first team. Phelan had been combining coaching the senior players, alongside the assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, with managing the reserve team.
Sbragia joined Sunderland from York City in 1994 after a playing career in the lower divisions. He said: "I've had eight good years at Sunderland. The club have been tremendous but this offer is a dream come true."
Meanwhile, Manchester United captain Roy Keane is refusing to accept the growing Old Trafford injury list as an excuse for the failure to match Arsenal and Liverpool this season. "We have one or two injuries, but that is too easy an excuse for people to use," Keane told MUTV. "It is a great opportunity for players coming into the team to show what they can do."
Of his injury, Keane said: "I am doing really well and working hard, especially in the last three or four weeks," he said. "I would like to be helping out the team and doing my job on the pitch but I have to be patient. I don't want to set myself targets which might be unrealistic."
Keane's team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has, meanwhile, singled out his 31-year-old captain as the biggest influence on his Old Trafford career. "I've learnt a lot from him. I would have to say that he's the one who's taught me the most at the club, I look up to him," Solskjaer told Norwegian newspaper VG.
The English FA has decided to take no further action against Middlesbrough or Leeds players over a scuffle during the 2-2 draw at the Riverside stadium last month. Middlesbrough's George Boateng initially accused the Leeds midfielder Nick Barmby of making racist comments but later withdrew the allegations. Barmby was scratched during an altercation in the tunnel.
Roger Mitchell confirmed yesterday that he will step down as chief executive of the Scottish Premier League at the end of the month.
Shelbourne chairman Finbar Flood has expressed his dismay about comments by FAI president Milo Corcoran that it may take up to five years to implement the Genesis report which recommends root and branch reform of FAI structures.
FIFA World rankings: Top 20
1 (1) Brazil 857 pts
2 (2) France 787
3 (3) Spain 779
4 (4) Germany 763
5 (5) Argentina 741
6 (6=) England 734
7 (6=) Mexico 731
8 (8) Turkey 728
9 (10) United States 720
10 (9) Netherlands 719
11 (11=) Italy 710
12 (11=) Portugal 709
13 (13) Denmark 705
14 (14) Republic of Ireland 699
15 (15=) Czech Republic 694
16 (15=) Yugoslavia 687
17 (19) Cameroon 685
18 (17) Belgium 682
19 (18) Paraguay 681
20 (20) South Korea 671
