A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Milijas loses his red-card appeal
WOLVES midfielder Nenad Milijas has lost his appeal against the red card he received during Tuesday's game at Arsenal and will have to serve a three-game ban with immediate effect.
The Serbia international had been hopeful of overturning the dismissal by referee Stuart Attwell for a challenge on Gunners midfield Mikel Arteta during the second half of the 1-1 draw.
But a Football Association disciplinary committee has dismissed his appeal and his ban will begin with tomorrow’s Premier League bottom-four clash at Bolton Wanderers.
Milijas will also be ruled out for the home league game with Chelsea on January 2nd and the FA Cup third-round tie with Birmingham at St Andrew’s five days later.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was seething immediately after the game at Emirates Stadium.
Helguson extends QPR contract
VETERAN striker Heidar Helguson has penned an extended contract with QPR.
The 34-year-old has been one of the club’s stand-out players since their return to the top flight, netting seven goals in 12 Premier League appearances.
Helguson’s future at the west London club had looked in doubt in the summer, but impressive performances have seen him rewarded with a new deal until 2013.
Swansea set to sign Donnelly
SWANSEA look set to finally complete the signing of Cliftonville striker Rory Donnelly after manager Brendan Rodgers revealed the club have agreed a new fee and personal terms for the Northern Ireland Under-21 international.
Swansea had initially appeared to be in pole position to land the 19-year-old after having an offer of around €119,000 accepted, but they were last week told to up that bid following interest from Merseyside giants Everton and Liverpool, and Rodgers had appeared downbeat on his hopes of bringing Donnelly to the Liberty Stadium.
But the south Wales club have had another offer accepted by the Belfast outfit, and Donnelly, who it is understood always favoured a move to Swansea, is set to complete his transfer. Rodgers said: “I think we now have an agreement on both sides in terms of Cliftonville as a club and personal terms with the player, so we hope to complete that fairly soon. He will be over here for the game against Tottenham on Saturday.”
Modric says he's almost certain to stay at Spurs
TOTTENHAM Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric said he was almost 100 per cent sure he would stay at the club until the end of the season amid speculation that he could leave during the January transfer window.
Modric, who nearly joined Chelsea last summer, said he would continue to “play his heart out” for Spurs, who are chasing their first league title since 1961.
He has reportedly also been targeted by Manchester United, whose manager Alex Ferguson is yet to find a long-term replacement for the retired Paul Scholes.
“Given all the circumstances, namely the fact that I don’t want to go through the same ordeal I went through during the summer transfer period, I am almost 100 per cent certain that I will stay at Tottenham until the end of the season,” Modric said in an interview yesterday.
“Of course, my departure always remains a theoretical possibility if the club gets an offer it can’t or wont refuse.” Spurs travel to Swansea City tomorrow.
Calls for fans to support O'Neill
NORTHERN Ireland supporters’ chief Gary McAllister has called for the Green and White Army to throw their support behind new national boss Michael O’Neill.
McAllister, chairman of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs, wants everybody to get behind the new appointment. “I think the relationship with the manager over the last year was at a very low ebb, but we need to look forward, not keep looking back,” said McAllister. “As fans we’ve not had too much to celebrate in the last year but now is time to look forward. We all need to get behind Michael O’Neill. A new manager can create a new dawn, if you will.
“There’s always a little sparkle and people are hopeful that it can lead to something good or a repeat of past glories.”
Justice done for Sammon
WIGAN boss Roberto Martinez believes justice has been done after the Football Association rescinded the red card shown to Conor Sammon in Monday’s 5-0 defeat against Manchester United.
Wigan were trailing 1-0 at Old Trafford when, in the 39th minute, the former UCD striker caught Michael Carrick in the face with his left hand.
There did not appear to be any real intent and Sammon looked disappointed to be penalised, and that turned to shock when he was shown a straight red by referee Phil Dowd.
Martinez said: “We thank the panel for their decision, which is the correct one. We now need to draw a line under the matter and move on.
“I am delighted to have Conor available for the next three matches. It would have been really unfair for him to share the frustrating feeling that he had on Monday for another three games after doing nothing wrong. “
