Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has ended speculation about his future by signing a new four-year contract with the club. The 43-year-old is set to become the longest-serving Premiership manager when Alex Ferguson steps down at Manchester United at the end of next season.
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson said on Tuesday he hoped to have concluded a deal to bring Manchester United number two Steve McClaren to the club by the weekend, but it appears he may have to wait a little longer. McClaren was due to return from holiday in Florida late today before resuming discussions with Boro over the job vacated by Bryan Robson.
Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed had a three-game ban lifted by the Football Association yesterday. Referee Barry Knight sent Speed off in Newcastle's final match of the season against Aston Villa. After reviewing the incident on video Knight agreed the red card should be converted into yellow.
Meanwhile Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has launched a furious attack on Kieron Dyer's agent amid rumours the England midfielder is set to leave St James' Park. Jonathan Barnett has been quoted as saying that a series of foreign clubs are ready to battle it out with Manchester United and Leeds for the 22-year-old this summer, but the Magpies are adamant they will not be tempted even by a bid of £20 million.
Germany international Christian Ziege wants talks with Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier before deciding whether he has a future at Anfield. Ziege said Tottenham Hotspur had made an offer for him and European Cup winners Bayern Munich are reported to be interested in the defender.
Sunderland boss Peter Reid has confirmed his interest in French striker Lilian Laslandes. Reid has spent the last few months looking for a man to replace Niall Quinn, whose back problems are continuing to be a real problem.
Stoke City's Republic of Ireland under-21 midfielder James O'Connor has been placed on the transfer list at his own request. Director of football John Rudge said: "We don't want James to leave the club and we have tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail."
Parma defender Stefano Torrisi's second urine sample has tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone, the Italian first division club announced yesterday. Last month Torrisi's first sample had given a positive result after the April 1st match with Bologna.
But there was better news for Bari's Swedish player Yksel Osmanovski who learned no further action will be taken after he was revealed last month to have tested positive for a painkiller.
Three England soccer fans have been handed prison sentences of up to 15 months by a Greek court for public order offences before Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match against Greece. The three were released pending an appeal and are free to leave the country.
