Today's other stories in brief
Woodgate commits
England defender Jonathan Woodgate has committed his future to Middlesbrough.
The 27-year-old yesterday completed a £7-million permanent transfer from Real Madrid after signing a four-year deal with the club he supported as a boy.
Woodgate, who joined Real in a £13.4-million move from Newcastle in August 2004 but played only a handful of games for the Spanish side because of injury, has made a huge impact during a season-long loan deal on Teesside and revealed he actually made his decision three months ago and knocked on manager Gareth Southgate's door to tell him.
The club kept the agreement quiet - to the extent they denied Real's claims in February that Woodgate had made his move - but revealed the details at a press conference yesterday.
Woodgate has started 33 of the 41 games Boro have played since his arrival last August to put his injury problems firmly behind him.
Tevez case continues
West Ham's hearing into Premier League charges relating to the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano has been adjourned until today. The club are accused of breaking the rule that forbids the ownership of players by a third party and failing to provide correct documentation.
Representatives from the club and the Premier League attended the hearing at a neutral venue in London yesterday morning. The hearing broke up around lunchtime, however, with all parties leaving to return again today.
The maximum penalty if West Ham are found guilty is a points deduction, which could all but confirm their relegation from the Premiership.
Lehmann ready to stay
Jens Lehmann is ready to stay at Arsenal for another season, according to reports in Germany.
The veteran goalkeeper, who will be 38 in November, was out of contract this summer, and as such could have left the Emirates Stadium for free.
Although the German international had been keen for the security of a two-year extension with Arsenal, the club were understood to be offering only a 12-month deal as is their policy toward senior players.
Lehmann told Bild newspaper: "I will play another season for Arsenal. It is a big club with prospects.
"I do not have to sign for two years, it is not a problem."
In brief . . .
West Brom's Republic of Ireland defender Paul McShane is available for the remainder of the club's promotion challenge after the Football Association upheld his appeal against his sending off at Burnley on Monday.
John Kennedy has signed a new three-year contract at Celtic, which will see him stay at the club until 2010.
Stuart Pearce, the Manchester City manager, has banned Joey Barton from speaking to the media for the rest of the season after the midfielder's public criticisms of the club.
Barton will not face disciplinary action after describing some of Pearce's signings as sub-standard and claiming that he would not pay money to watch City if he were a fan.
Birmingham City's Irish goalkeeper Colin Doyle has signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at St Andrew's until the summer of 2011.
Tonight's fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
National League Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v Galway United, Derry City v Bohemians, Drogheda United v Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, UCD v Longford Town. First Division: Kilkenny City v Kildare County (7.30), Shelbourne v Limerick 37 (Whitehall, 8.0)
English Football League Championship: Sunderland v Burnley. One: Northampton v Huddersfield.
Last night
National League First Division: Dundalk 4 (Flanagan 65, Flood 71, Malone 75 og, Hughes 87) Wexford Youths 0.
