A round-up of today's other soccer stories in brief

O'Leary not for Ireland

David O'Leary reiterated yesterday he would not be interested in becoming manager of the Republic of Ireland right now in the wake of their failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. The Aston Villa manager said he had unfinished business at club level as he said:

"I want to get rid of the day-to-day stuff, and there's a lot more of that in me yet.

"My name will not be thrown into the hat. I want to do club football for a long time. Only later, if I had a chance to do international football with my country, would I be interested.

"I just hope whatever they do over there is right for everybody because the fans are absolutely brilliant."

Another factor militating against the Dubliner taking the Ireland job would be the fact he only signed a lucrative new three-year contract with Villa in the summer, which would lead to the FAI having to pay considerable compensation, as well as a salary close to the £1.5 million he is believed to be earning at the club.

Swiss wait on Yakin

Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn is hoping he will hope to be able to call on playmaker Hakan Yakin, whose family originate from Turkey, if the midfielder can first recover from a thigh injury in their World Cup play-off match against the Turks.

"A player like Hakan Yakin at his fittest will always be welcome in the Swiss team," said Kuhn. "But he will be selected based on his form rather than on his knowledge of Turkish football."

In the other ties drawn yesterday Spain will play Slovakia and Norway will meet the Czech Republic.

Spain, Switzerland and Norway will all be at home in the first legs on November 12th, with the return legs are on November 16th.

O'Shea extends stay

John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher have extended their contracts at Manchester United until 2009.

Versatile defender O'Shea (24), has been called upon by United to fill in across the back four so far this season with injuries to Gabriel Heinze and Gary Neville.

Scotland midfielder Fletcher has made impressive progress over the last 12 months, establishing himself as a first-team regular for both club and country.

The 21-year-old, who scored in Scotland's 3-0 victory in Slovenia on Wednesday, said yesterday: "I hope one day I can reach the level of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

"I'll always want to improve; even the most experienced players here are still learning."

Hleb out for two months

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger yesterday said he was facing the worst injury crisis he could remember and believed the boots of the players may be to blame.

Alexander Hleb is the latest in a casualty list that also includes Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry, leaving Wenger without several first-team players for today's Premiership match at West Bromwich Albion.

Wenger said midfielder Hleb, who was injured while on World Cup qualifying duty for Belarus against Scotland last weekend, needed knee surgery and would be out for up to eight weeks.

Left back Cole has also been ruled out for up to two months after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot.

Wenger claimed he was the third player to have sustained the injury after Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos last year.

"I don't know when Cole's injury happened but we have had three identical injuries and it could be down to the boots.

"It's the wrong sitting because of the blades. Senderos, Clichy and Cole had the blades on. I would like to check if it was the blades."

Villa ponder takeover

Doug Ellis has confirmed Aston Villa were "proceeding with an initial inquiry" regarding a possible takeover of the club.

The Villa chairman told shareholders at yesterday's annual general meeting he hoped to know within the next month whether the proposal from a mystery group would be firmed up.

Ellis rejected a £47million bid from a consortium including former Manchester City player Ray Ranson in July and there has been speculation regarding investors from Russia wanting to buy Villa although this has been denied.

The 81-year-old insisted any would-be buyers must have the best interests of Villa at heart before he contemplated any sale although a figure of £60 million would be realistic in the current market.

"We are proceeding with that initial inquiry that we have received and, if it comes to fruition, then we can give you a complete answer," he told the meeting.

"We have had an approach, and it is interesting, there is no doubt about that. But it isn't finalised. We are still working on it."