Just when transfer yarns concerning the Irish abroad were beginning to run thin and we thought we'd have to make a few up (again) we were rescued by a steady trickle, nay, flood, of stories the past couple of days.

The Sun, for example, told us of Terry Phelan's "furious bust-up" with the powers-that-be at Fulham which has resulted in him walking out on the club which, they reckon, he will leave this week. Crystal Palace, where Phelan had a spell on loan last season, are tipped to sign him up.

Derby and Sheffield Wednesday have put not for sale signs on Rory Delap and Alan Quinn who, yet again, are attracting a spot of interest. Middlesbrough made a £5m bid for Delap last week while Everton and Spurs have reportedly renewed their interest in Quinn. Elsewhere Tony Sheridan finally put pen to paper on a one-year contract with Cardiff City while Irish under-21 striker David McMahon is joining Falkirk on a month's loan from Newcastle.