A round-up of other soccer news.
Leeds takeover still on
The looming threat of relegation and pressing loan repayments have forced Leeds United to return to the negotiating table with the haulage magnate Steven Parkin, but the club insists he will have to put up at least £15 million to buy new players to secure the deal on top of whatever it costs to take over the club.
Last week the board knocked back an initial offer of around pounds £20 million from the chief executive of the Clipper Group of haulage and warehousing companies but despite speculation that the talks had broken down irrevocably a deal remains likely.
Melvyn Helme, a member of the new Leeds board, insisted yesterday that the club would only do business if potential bidders cleared the immediate debts and put up to £25 million into team building.
"If we were to step aside - and we would if somebody came in who we thought had the best interest of Leeds United at heart - the minimum requirement would be that they could put in a substantial amount of money for player purchasing. We're talking probably £15 million to £25 million," said Helme, the club's corporate finance director.
But Parkin, whose approach has received the backing of supporters' groups, is believed to be playing a waiting game.
The club, still more than pounds £50 million in debt, must find a £3 million loan repayment before the end of May. Plans to sell or mortgage the ground floundered after potential buyers said it was overvalued by as much as pounds £12 million, the offer of 20-year season tickets at £4,000 each has attracted fewer than 100 applications and an agent, Philip Morrison, has been appointed to sell off players.
The managing director David Richmond, who was thought to be close to resigning last week after his fellow directors rejected Parkin's approach, defended Morrison's appointment. "All we are doing is if - and it is only an if - we get relegated then we want to be prepared to give ourselves the very best opportunity to come back next season," he said.
Guardian Service
Lippi to move aside
Marcello Lippi has announced he will quit as Juventus coach at the end of the season.
The move is not unexpected and Lippi, who guided the Turin club to the Scudetto last season, has insisted that he has no plans yet for a new job.
"I am going," the 56-year-old said yesterday. "I emphasise that I will not go to any other team. I have refused all contacts. So many clubs have phoned and I have turned them down."
Lippi's two stints with Juventus have been hugely successful, winning five Serie A titles, one Champions League and one Intercontinental Cup.
Former Juve player Didier Deschamps has been linked with the post at the Turin club after he guided Monaco to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Rivaldo given deadline
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce will end his interest in Rivaldo if the Brazilian star does not state his intentions within the next few days.
Rivaldo has returned to Brazil to think over an offer from Bolton but Allardyce has admitted he is frustrated that the former World Player of the Year has yet to make a decision.
Allardyce said: "I'm disappointed that we haven't got a decision one way or the other but that also means there's still hope.
"If there's not a positive move in a few days then we'd have to call time on it because it might suggest that our offer is being touted about to see if it could be bettered elsewhere. We don't want to work like that."
Woodgate's season over
Newcastle United's England defender Jonathan Woodgate has only a "slender chance" of being fit for Euro 2004 due to his thigh injury, the player's club manager Bobby Robson said yesterday.
The 24-year-old will see a specialist to discover the extent of his torn thigh muscle and Robson says the centre-half could be out of action until next season.
Robson said: "We can forget about Jonathan Woodgate. He has a two-month, a 10-week, maybe a three-month injury. We are sending him to see a specialist who is an expert in muscle tears.
"When we get some feedback from these tests we'll be able to decide on him but he has no chance of playing again for us this season."
In Brief. . .
Argentina legend Diego Maradona has been discharged from hospital in Buenos Aires where he was admitted on April 18th with severe heart problems. Frank de Boer has indicated he is set to quit Rangers and follow twin brother Ronald to Qatar.
Celtic's Stilian Petrov and Robert Douglas both face time on the sidelines through ankle and hip injuries respectively. Lorenzo Amoruso is expected to miss Blackburn's three remaining games after damaging a hamstring. Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has made a move for Nigerian international Taribo West, who is set to be released by Partizan Belgrade. West Ham's chairman Terence Brown has hit back at criticism of his regime, denying that the club is in financial difficulties.
