Duff's scan checks out
Ireland manager Steve Staunton received qualified good news yesterday with the word from Newcastle that the scan on Damian Duff's thigh strain showed no serious damage to the muscle, reports Emmet Malone.
The Newcastle United winger is now firmly in contention to take part in Ireland's forthcoming European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
United manager Glenn Roeder has indicated to his Republic of Ireland counterpart, however, that Duff will have to prove his fitness by taking part in one of the club's two games this week if he is to be released for international duty.
Newcastle take on Levadia Talinn in the Uefa Cup at St James' Park tomorrow evening after which they visit Manchester United in the Premiership on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer is targeting the visit of Bolton to St James' Park on October 15th for his return from a long-standing hamstring injury.
Cole's agent banned
Ashley Cole's agent, Jonathan Barnett, has been fined £100,000 and had his licence suspended after being declared "a prime mover" in fixing the infamous meeting between the England defender and Chelsea.
It is the first time an agent has had his licence suspended in connection with illegal approaches for players. Barnett's suspension is for 18 months from October 16th, with the second nine months suspended on the condition he does not breach other FA rules. He has lodged an appeal.
Chelsea, their manager Jose Mourinho and Cole were all fined by the Premier League last year and the full back finally moved from Arsenal to Stamford Bridge last month.
Newcastle sack Bond
Kevin Bond was sacked by Newcastle United yesterday in the wake of his involvement in last week's Panorama programme on corruption in football but Glenn Roeder's former assistant may seek legal redress, writes Louise Taylor.
Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle's chairman, and the club's lawyers have studied the audio recording of Bond made by undercover reporters which was broadcast during the programme.
A club statement, issued to the stock exchange yesterday morning, said: "Newcastle United has terminated Kevin Bond's contract. There is no further comment."
Panorama's coverage of Bond in Football's Dirty Secrets related to his previous job as Harry Redknapp's assistant at Portsmouth and had nothing to do with his post at Newcastle, whom he joined in June.
The 49-year-old, who insists he has never had any interest in receiving bungs, is deeply unhappy with his treatment by Panorama and is proposing legal action against the BBC.
Dutch striker ditched
Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted he does not expect to be called up to play for Holland again as long as Marco van Basten remains coach of the national team.
The former Manchester United striker - now at Real Madrid - has not figured on the international scene since he was substituted against Argentina in the final group game of the World Cup in Germany.
And after failing to make the squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Albania, Van Nistelrooy has admitted that his time is up - for now at least.
"The understanding between us (he and Van Basten) was troubled, and that was exactly the reason why I told the closest people to me, after the World Cup ended for us, that I would not be called up anymore," he said .
"I am now talking about Oranje in the past tense, and that is weird. But I will never call any coach of the Dutch team to tell him that I don't want to play international games anymore."
O'Gorman does trick
Republic of Ireland women's side defeated host nation Slovakia 4-0 in Uefa Under-19's Championship first qualifying phase yesterday.
Aoife Herbert opened the scoring in the 12th minute and a hat-trick of goals from Aine O'Gorman sealed their opening game win.
Ireland will play Bulgaria tomorrow and Italy on Sunday to decide who qualifies from Group 10.
Meanwhile. the Irish under-16 boys team drew 1-1 with France in Guingamp yesterday with Gearóid Morrisey scoring their goal.
In brief . . .
Luton defender Kevin Foley has been put on standby for the Republic of Ireland's upcoming European Championship qualifiers . . . Wolves are set to sign Middlesbrough defender David Wheater (19) on a loan deal . . . South American federation president and Fifa executive member Dr Nicolas Leoz has been alleged in a Swiss court to have received €135,000 in payments relating to television rights.
