Soccer shorts: Rangers moved six points clear of champions Celtic in the Scottish Premier League yesterday with a 2-0 win over bottom club Motherwell - Celtic, however, have two games in hand.
Captain Barry Ferguson opened the scoring with a first half free-kick and Peter Lovenkrands doubled the lead a minute after the restart.
Rangers' first home game for almost a month coincided with the arrival of the League Cup, which was won on Sunday thanks to a memorable 2-1 Hampden Park victory over Celtic.
Souness and Cole make up
Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness and striker Andy Cole have resolved their differences following last week's training ground row. Souness and Cole fell out during training on Friday and the former Manchester United striker was dropped from the squad for the 2-0 win over Arsenal at Ewood Park on Saturday.
But Souness and Cole met yesterday and Ewood chief executive John Williams said in a statement: "They sat down together over a cup of tea and chatted things through. I am happy to report that the situation has now been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties."
Leeds ponder staff clear-out
Leeds United are in talks to make 17 club employees redundant in a further attempt to slash their payroll. The chairman, Peter Ridsdale, has been forced to act following Leeds' failure to qualify for the Champions League for two seasons followed by what is looking increasingly like a relegation struggle this term.
"On March 7, 2003, Leeds United plc announced its intent to reduce its cost base by approximately £3 million on an annualised basis," Ridsdale said in a statement. "We have entered into a formal consultation process with 17 employees which may lead to them being declared redundant."
It remains to be seen whether manager Terry Venables will be included in the latest round of swingeing cuts, though William Hill yesterday cut its odds on another Premiership manager leaving prior to May 11th from 7-2 to 6-4.
Guardian Service
Celtic three will not face charges
Three Celtic footballers who were arrested following a fracas with a photographer during their Christmas party will not face charges, police said yesterday. Belgian Joos Valgaeren, Swede Johan Mjallby and Dutchman Bobby Petta were held overnight after the incident in Newcastle on December 17th when a photographer from the Daily Record newspaper alleged his camera had been stolen.
The trio were due to answer bail this month, but Northumbria police said no further action would be taken. "We carried out a full and thorough investigation into what was a serious allegation and submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service," said detective chief inspector Jim Napier. "We have now been advised that no further action should be taken as there is insufficient evidence to support a prosecution."
