SOCCER/NATIONAL LEAGUE: Shamrock Rovers are set to unveil Kilkenny City's Pat Scully as the club's new manager on Saturday. The former Rovers and Shelbourne skipper will succeed Roddy Collins who was sacked earlier this week, writes Emmet Malone.
Scully, who led Kilkenny to fourth place in the first division table this season, six points behind play-off winners Dublin City, had made his interest in the job known last week and is believed to have turned down the chance to replace Jim Gannon at Dundalk in the hope of taking over at the Hoops instead.
The 35-year-old, who enjoyed considerable success as a player in recent years at Shelbourne and earned a single senior international cap while at Arsenal back in 1989, takes over at a time of considerable upheaval for Rovers who are about to have to come to terms with life in the first division.
His first task will be to assemble a squad capable of challenging for promotion next year although the club would be expected to be in a strong position to bounce straight back from this season's setbacks.
PREMIERSHIP: Sheffield United have given Portsmouth permission to talk to manager Neil Warnock.
Warnock, 57 today, has been favourite to succeed Alain Perrin at Fratton Park since the Frenchman was sacked by chairman Milan Mandaric last week following Portsmouth's poor start to the season.
It now appears it is only a matter of the two clubs agreeing compensation before Warnock, who will appoint Chester manager Keith Curle as his assistant, becomes a Premiership manager for the first time.
UEFA QUALIEFIERS: The Irish under-17s will have home advantage as they seek to progress through the second phase of qualifying for next summer's UEFA Championships in Luxembourg it was announced yesterday in Cyprus. Sean McCaffrey's side, who recently recently overcame tough opposition to win their first qualifying group and get to this stage of the tournament, were drawn against Romania, Israel as well as Serbia and Montenegro. The four team mini-tournament will now take place here in March with only the top side going through to the finals which will be held in Luxembourg in May.
The under-19s, meanwhile, will look to build on their success in Cork where they eliminated Italy from the European Youth Championships, when they travel to Slovakia in May. In addition to the hosts they will compete against the Turks and Georgians for a place in July's finals in Poland.
UNDER-17 (all games in Ireland): March 27th: Rep of Ireland v Romania; March 29th: Rep of Ireland v Israel; March 31st: Rep of Ireland v Serbia & Montenegro.
UNDER-19 (all games Slovakia): May 19th: Slovakia v Rep of Ireland; May 21st: Turkey v Rep of Ireland; May 23rd: Georgia v Rep of Ireland.
AWARDS: Frank Lampard will go head to head with Ronaldinho again next month after both players were included on the three-man shortlist to be FIFA's World Player of the Year.
The Chelsea midfielder finished second behind Barcelona's brilliant Brazilian in the European Footballer of the Year award earlier this week and Ronaldinho is favourite to retain the world title he won last year. The list is completed by Ronaldinho's Barcelona team-mate Samuel Eto'o.
