Derry sign up BarcelonaDerry City Football Club's favourite son, John Hume, has pulled off yet another major coup for his home town club by securing the visit of Spanish giants Barcelona to the Brandywell in July.
"The match will be played during the last week of July, on either Tuesday or Wednesday evening," confirmed the Derry chairman Jim Roddy last night.
"We've spoken to the club's president, Joan Gaspart, having been invited to the magnificent Nou Camp Stadium to watch the club draw 2-2 with Athletico Bilbao on Sunday.
"And Gaspart has suggested late July as the best possible date as Barcelona will be preparing to travel to the USA for a tour and all their top players will be available."
Ipswich in financial trouble
First Division Ipswich have revealed they have applied for a temporary administration order as they seek to deal with their financial problems.
A press conference was called at Portman Road yesterday to reveal the move as Ipswich became the latest club recently relegated from the Premiership to suffer financial difficulties.
The financial crisis stems from Ipswich's relegation from the top flight last season and they follow Leicester and Bradford in having money troubles since dropping out of the top flight.
'It's mine to spend'
Soccer players can gamble or do whatever they want with their earnings, Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said in an interview published yesterday.
"In my spare time I can decide what I do. It's my money, I earned it, and I can do whatever I want with it," the Dutch international told the London Evening Standard. Hasselbaink, who earns about £2 million a year, likes to gamble at casinos, where he is reported to have lost more than £1 million in two years.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's home win over Charlton Athletic last month stands after the English premier league yesterday rejected a complaint by the visiting side that the Stamford Bridge pitch contravened the league's rules.
On the move again
Fulham are talking to Chelsea about a possible groundshare of their west London rivals' Stamford Bridge stadium, a Fulham spokesman said yesterday. Fulham, who left their own Craven Cottage ground at the end of last season, are currently sharing second division Queens Park Rangers' pitch at Loftus Road ground.
France international striker Steve Marlet has hinted he could leave Fulham if coach Jean Tigana steps down from his job at the end of the season.
Varga in, Larsson out
Scottish champions Celtic have bolstered their squad by signing Slovakian defender Stanislav Varga until the end of the season. Varga, a free agent after being freed by Sunderland last month, has signed a pre-contract agreement on condition he passes a medical and obtains a work permit.
However, Henrik Larsson is expected to be out for six weeks after sustaining a double fracture of his jaw at the weekend. The Celtic striker is certain to miss the UEFA Cup ties with Stuttgart and double-header with Rangers.
Good and bad news
Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo faces at least another month on the sidelines after yesterday receiving confirmation he has torn a hamstring. A scan has revealed the extent of the injury to the centre back who last week announced his retirement from international football with Scotland due to a persistent knee problem.
Better news for Leeds fans came with the confirmation yesterday that teenager James Milner has signed his first professional contract with the club.
In Brief. . .
Sunderland have denied that Howard Wilkinson is to step down as manager and be replaced by his assistant Steve Cotterill. The EU is investigating whether Italy's plan to throw cash-strapped clubs a financial lifeline breaches state-aid rules. Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich's personal hearing against a possible drugs ban has been adjourned by the FA. And Colombian doctor Mauricio Vergara, who helped Diego Maradona lose weight, has admitted he was guilty of possessing two kilos of cocaine when arrested last December.
