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

Zayed on short list for Player of the Year award

HAVING FINISHED the season as the Premier Division’s top scorer and earned another call-up to the Libyan squad, Eamon Zayed was yesterday named as one of six contenders for this year’s PFAI Player of the Year award.

Zayed, who will join up with the Libyans for friendly games against Sundan, Palestine and Jordan next month, is out of contract with Derry City but should be in considerable demand between now and next season in the event that he doesn’t move abroad.

The former Bray Wanderers and Sporting Fingal striker is joined on the shortlist for the main Tissot sponsored award by Eoin Doyle and Richie Ryan of Sligo Rovers as well as Shamrock Rovers’ Pat Sullivan, Daryl Kavanagh of St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk’s Mark Quigley.

Player of the year nominees: Eoin Doyle (Sligo Rovers), Daryl Kavanagh (St Patrick’s Athletic), Mark Quigley (Dundalk), Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers), Pat Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Eamon Zayed (Derry).

Young player of the year nominees: Daniel Lafferty (Derry), James McClean (Derry), Enda Stevens (Shamrock Rovers).

First Division player of the year nominees: Seán Brennan (Monaghan United), David Cassidy (Shelbourne), Graham Cummins (Cork City).

Irish overseas player of the year nominees: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Shane Long (WBA).

Referee of the year nominees: Neil Doyle, Alan Kelly, Paul Tuite.

Premier Division team of the year: Ger Doherty (Derry); Pat Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Stewart Greacen (Derry), Craig Sives (Shamrock Rovers), Enda Stevens (Shamrock Rovers), Stephen Bradley (St Patrick’s Athletic), Daryl Kavanagh (St Patrick’s Athletic), Richie Ryan (Sligo), Mark Quigley (Dundalk), Eamon Zayed (Derry), Eoin Doyle (Sligo).

First Division team of the year: Mark McNulty (Cork City), Danny Murphy (Cork City), Stephen Paisley (Shelbourne), Pat Purcell (Limerick), Lorcan Fitzgerald (Shelbourne), Seán Brennan (Monaghan United), Gearóid Morrissey (Cork City), David Cassidy (Shelbourne), Shane Duggan (Cork City), Graham Cummins (Cork City), Philip Hughes (Shelbourne).

Ferdinand sent threatening letter

POLICE have started an investigation after QPR defender Anton Ferdinand was sent a threatening letter in the post.

Metropolitan Police officers were called after the document, which reportedly contained a death threat, arrived at the club’s ground in west London last week.

British media reports said the contents of the letter were so graphic that QPR officials did not show it to the defender, who is at the centre of a race row involving Chelsea’s John Terry. The letter was delivered by hand to Loftus Road last Friday, according to reports.

Ferdinand (26) was the alleged victim of a racist comment made by Terry during QPR’s Premier League home match with Chelsea last month.

The 30-year-old Chelsea and England captain denies the claims, which are being investigated by the Met and the Football Association.

Spain name experienced squad

SPAIN have named an experienced squad for their friendly matches against England and Costa Rica this month. Coach Vicente Del Bosque has chosen not to draft anyone in for a first call-up, and he was able to recall Barcelona star Andres Iniesta – who scored the winner the last time the world and European champions played England on English soil back in 2007.

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo and Barcelona forward Pedro are injured.

SPAIN (squad v England and Costa Rica): Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Valencia), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Nacho Monreal (Malaga); Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Malaga), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona); David Villa (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Jesus Navas (Sevilla).

Hibs may look to O'Neill

SHAMROCK Rovers manager Michael O’Neill is the early favourite to fill the vacancy at Hibernian following yesterday’s dismissal of Colin Calderwood.

The former Northern Ireland international played for Hibs between 1993 and 1996 and began his managerial career at Brechin City before his move to Rovers in December 2008.

Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Dunfermline, which sparked impromptu protests against the rest of the Easter Road board, proved the end for Calderwood after little more than a year in the post.

Adam denies sectarian charge

RANGERS goalkeeper Grant Adam has pleaded not guilty over an alleged sectarian breach of the peace.

Adam (20), is alleged to have conducted himself in a disorderly manner by swearing and singing sectarian slogans in Ingram Street, Glasgow, in the early hours of November 6th.

The footballer, who is the brother of Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam, denied the charge when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

He was released on bail and will appear back at the court on January 25th next year, ahead of a trial on February 10th.

Adam has been a member of the Old Firm club since leaving school and is now the third-choice goalkeeper.

ST Johnstone’s Premier League game against Aberdeen, scheduled for last night, was postponed due to heavy fog.

The decision was taken following an inspection at McDiarmid Park yesterday by referee Steven McLean.

Wigan's Alcaraz charged with spitting at opponent

WIGAN’S Antolin Alcaraz is facing a three-match ban after being charged by the Football Association with spitting at an opponent.

Television cameras appeared to catch Alcaraz spitting at Wolves defender Richard Stearman during the Latics 3-1 defeat at Molineux.

It was initially thought Alcaraz had spat at Wolves centre-back Christophe Berra but Stearman confirmed he was the player targeted by the Paraguay defender.

Stearman was reluctant to comment, but admitted: “It wasn’t Berra, I’ll give you that, but I don’t think it’s right for me to talk about it at the moment.” When he was asked if he was spat upon, he replied: “Yes, but I’m not going to speak about it.”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was furious about the incident. “Spitting is taboo if that’s what happened. I only had it happen to me once and the player didn’t come too close to me for a long time after that.”