WEST HAM: West Ham were in discussions with Trevor Brooking last night as they sought to bring their former England midfielder on to the management team at Upton Park.
The club are hoping to install him as temporary manager or integrate him into the management set-up for the final three matches of the season after Glenn Roeder suffered a minor stroke that is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the season. Roeder was in a stable condition at the Royal London Hospital last night.
Brooking held talks with the West Ham chairman Terry Brown and managing director Paul Aldridge yesterday afternoon and the trio resumed discussions at the club's reserve match against Fulham at Woking last night.
West Ham hope to make a formal announcement today about what role Brooking will take on. He may well be the figurehead at the front of a three-man management team, also comprising Roeder's assistant Paul Goddard and the reserve coach Roger Cross.
"Nothing's been finally decided but we would be stupid not to use his expertise," said the West Ham press officer Peter Stewart.
Guardian Service
FULHAM: Louis van Gaal's representative last night declined the opportunity to end speculation linking the former Barcelona boss with the vacant Fulham post.
Van Gaal's solicitor Cor Hellingman said: "Louis is contemplating several positions but I'm not going to say if Fulham are among them or not."
FIFA RANKINGS: The Republic of Ireland drop a place to 14th after their win over Georgia and draw in Albania in the FIFA rankings. Northern Ireland, after defeats in Armenia and at home against Greece, drop four places to 111. England have moved up two places to seventh after their Euro 2004 qualifier wins over Turkey and Liechtenstein earlier this month. Wales move into the World's top 50 after an eight-year absence with a two-place leap to 49th, following their 4-0 hammering of Azerbaijan. Berti Vogts's Scotland have moved up four places, to 59th, after their win over Iceland and defeat in Lithuania and .
Leading FIFA world soccer rankings: 1. Brazil 849 points; 2. Spain 785; 3. France 782; 4. Germany 755; 5. Netherlands 752; 6. Argentina 750; 7. England 742; 8. Turkey 728; 9. Mexico 724; 10. United States 719; 11. Denmark 715; 12. Portugal 709; 13. Czech Republic 705; 14. Italy 702; 15. Republic of Ireland 698; 16. Belgium 682; 17. Cameroon 673; 18. Costa Rica 672; 19. Paraguay 670; 20. Sweden 662.
BIRMINGHAM: Steve Bruce's success in virtually ensuring Birmingham stay in the Premiership is set to be thanked by the board with a new five-year contract it was revealed on yesterday. Bruce has led the Blues to promotion to the Premiership and they look virtually certain to stay in the elite for another term as they are nine points clear of third from bottom West Ham with just three matches remaining in the campaign. While Bruce has three years remaining on his contract that he signed when he replaced Trevor Francis 18 months ago after leaving Crystal Palace he admitted at the weekend that he would like to sign a new one.
