Today's other stories in brief
Grant set for West Ham job
AVRAM GRANT has edged closer to taking over as manager of West Ham United after Portsmouth indicated they would not seek any compensation should the Israeli desire a move to Upton Park.
The 55-year-old could not be persuaded to stay and indicated he would favour a move to West Ham, where he is expected to sign a three-season contract worth around €1.5 million a year, after the dismissal of Gianfranco Zola last week.
'All I can do is apologise . . . I was just too late'
PORTSMOUTH midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has apologised to Michael Ballack for the challenge which ruled the Germany captain out of the World Cup.
Boateng, who will represent Ghana – an opponent of Germany in the group stage – at the World Cup this summer, told Germany’s Sport Bild magazine that he had already offered his apologies several times to Ballack. “All I can do is apologise,” said Boateng, who is the half-brother of Germany international Jerome Boateng.
“I was just too late and I hit him straight on. It looked stupid. I apologised to him twice on the field and now for a third time. “I am sorry. It was not intentional.”
Ballack is still letting the realisation sink in that he is going to miss the World Cup due to the ankle injury he picked up from the tackle.
“Of course I am angry and it is disappointing. I don’t want to comment on it yet,” he said. “I am obviously disappointed and have just got to let it sink in.”
O'Neill recommends Lennon
NEIL LENNON is edging closer to being appointed Celtic’s manager after being recommended for the post by a former manager Martin ONeill. Dermot Desmond, the club’s largest individual shareholder, is understood to have contacted O’Neill for advice over a replacement for Tony Mowbray, who was sacked by the club in March. ONeill, who successfully managed Celtic for five years from 2000, believes his fellow Northern Irishman should be given the job following a spell as interim manager.
It also emerged yesterday that Celtic will face a tough test in their first Champions League qualifier after confirmation they will not be seeded at any stage of the qualifying rounds. Celtic could face Fenerbahce, Zenit St Petersburg, Ajax or Dynamo Kiev in the third qualifying round. They will discover their opponents on July 16th with the first leg taking place 11 days later.
Reid could move to Celtic
REPUBLIC of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid could be Celtic’s first summer signing despite the Glasgow side still being without a new manager.
The 29-year-old has been in talks with the Scottish Premier League club after being freed by Blackburn Rovers. But no deal will be done until after Celtic return from Germany, where they are playing St Pauli in a friendly match on Tuesday evening.
Reid had spells on loan to Championship sides West Brom and QPR this season.
He made only two appearances for QPR during his month with the London club. But he played 10 times for West Brom after moving to the Hawthorns in April, helping them win promotion to the Premier League.
Celtic caretaker manager Neil Lennon now appears to be leading the chase for his signature.
Anelka set to sign new Chelsea deal
STRIKER Nicolas Anelka is on the brink of signing a new contract extension at Chelsea.
The France international is expected to commit himself to the Premier League champions for a further two years.
Anelka’s agent, Doug Pingisi, has revealed that discussions are taking place and that the outcome looks positive.
“We are still in talks [about a new deal] and hopefully we will have news soon.”
EVERTON midfielder Tim Cahill has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club for the next four years.
The Australia international is a key player for Everton and his willingness to sign a new long-term deal is a boost for manager David Moyes.
TOTTENHAM goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has signed a new one-year contract, the club have confirmed. The 36-year-old moved from rivals Chelsea in 2009.
Experiment to continue
THE experiment with two extra linesman behind the goals is to continue for another two years and will be extended beyond Europe, the sport’s rule-making body said yesterday.
The new system, backed by Uefa president Michel Platini, was used in this year’s Europa League and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said that, although there were positive aspects, it needed further testing.
It is the only significant proposal on the table at present to help referees after the IFAB ruled out the use of goal line technology at a meeting in February.
“There’s a general consensus that the experiment to date has been extremely interesting and I think most will agree that the results have proved more favourable than negative,” said IFAB member and Welsh FA chairman Jonathan Ford yesterday.
