Today's other stories in brief

McAteer calls it a day

Former Republic of Ireland, Bolton and Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer has announced his retirement. McAteer became a free agent at the end of last season when Tranmere Rovers opted not to renew his deal as player/coach at Prenton Park. The 35-year-old has decided to hang up his boots after a 16-year career.

He made his name under Bruce Rioch at Bolton, making 109 appearances between 1992 and 1995, before big-money moves to Liverpool, Blackburn and Sunderland.

He also made 52 appearances for Ireland, scoring three goals and appearing in the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

West Brom reject bids

West Brom have rejected bids from Fulham and Birmingham City for Diomansy Kamara and midfielder Jason Koumas. The club rejected a £3 million offer from Birmingham for striker Kamara on Monday and are understood to have turned down a renewed £5 million offer for the pair. Fulham made a cash-plus-players bid for the duo but that was also rebuffed.

Lennon signs for Forest

Former Celtic captain Neil Lennon has signed a one-year deal with League One club Nottingham Forest. Lennon left the Hoops at the end of the season after seven years with the Glasgow club. The 35-year-old, a former favourite with Forest's east midlands rivals Leicester, broke off from a family holiday in Portugal to complete the negotiations.

Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood said: "I do not think we will be looking for him to play for the next five or six years but what we will be hoping is that he has an influence on those players who will still be in the game beyond when he has retired."

Solano to stay

Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano and Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul have signed new contracts with the club. Solano has been handed a one-year deal by new boss Sam Allardyce while Krul (19) has penned a four-year extension.

Johnson back training

Everton striker Andrew Johnson should have recovered from his ankle operation in time for the start of pre-season training next month. The England international has started jogging at the club's Bellefield training ground. Johnson had an operation to repair his ankle in the last week of the season. Everton have insisted the player is not for sale, and are concentrating on getting him fit for the build-up to the forthcoming campaign.

Club physio Mick Rathbone said: "He is fully recovered from the surgery he underwent at the end of last season, and this work is to ensure he is completely ready to join in with the other lads when pre-season training starts in earnest next month."

Birmingham wanted

Indian-born billionaire Lakshmi Mittal has emerged as a contender to buy Premiership club Birmingham. The steel magnate, who is worth £19.25 billion, has made an inquiry about the possibility of taking over the midlands club from David Sullivan and David and Ralph Gold.

Mittal, who is based in Britain, has not so far followed up his initial interest in Birmingham who have become a more attractive commodity following their return to the Premiership.

City are already the subject of interest from a Far East businessman who is planning to make a formal bid later in the week if auditors are satisfied after going through the club's books. But 56-year-old Mittal, who last year bought Arcelor, the world's second biggest steel-maker for £17.8 billion, is maintaining a watching brief.

Uefa relax punishment

Uefa have relaxed the punishment meted out to Denmark following the abandoned Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden. The game was called off with the score at 3-3 in Copenhagen on June 2nd when a fan ran on the pitch and tried to attack referee Herbert Fandel.

European football's governing body subsequently awarded the tie 3-0 to Sweden, putting the Scandinavian nation into a three-point lead over Spain at the top of Northern Ireland's Group F, and said Denmark must play their next four home games at least 155 miles away from Copenhagen. But Uefa have now said they will consider suitable grounds nearer the capital after the Danish Football Association (DBU), who were also fined £40,000, argued on appeal that there are no stadiums appropriate for international matches which met the distance required.