Soccer news
Liverpool take time
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists the club have not yet approached anyone over the vacant manager's job. A string of top coaches, including Valencia boss Rafael Benitez have been linked with the position since Gerard Houllier's exit last week.
Parry, though, played down suggestions that the Liverpool board have already earmarked a successor for the Frenchman. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme from his holiday in Barbados, Parry said: "We did not want any of the muddying of the waters or the indignity of clandestine talks taking place while Gerard was still around, so we start now."
Parry also revealed that senior players at Anfield like Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen will be consulted over who should replace Houllier.
Costinha eyes move
Porto midfielder Costinha has joined team-mate Deco in expressing a desire to follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea.
Champions League-winning coach Mourinho is expected to be named as Claudio Ranieri's successor this week and Costinha is hoping to be one of his first signings.
He told the News of the World: I still have two years left on my contract at Porto but of course I'd love to go with Mourinho.
Playmaker Deco was quoted in the Sun as saying: "Of course I'd like to go to Chelsea as he's a coach I know well. He's won everything here and now has other ambitions."
In brief . . .
Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert has ruled out a summer move to Middlesbrough. Kluivert said: "I will not consider a move to a small club. I would like to go to one of the big London teams" . . . Drumcondra, one of the most famous clubs in Irish soccer history, are into the draw for second round of the FAI Senior Cup. The Dublin club, who exited the League of Ireland in 1972, beat Letterkenny Rovers 2-0 in their first round replay at Ballyrarr in Donegal yesterday . . . A team of former Brazil Internationals, including Dunga, the captain of the 1994 World Cup winners, played a friendly at Exeter City yesterday to mark the Devon club's centenary. The Brazilian national team played their first ever game against Exeter City in Brazil in 1914. Careca scored from the penalty spot yesterday to win the match 1-0 for the South Americans.
