Dutch FA clear Connolly to leave

David Connolly has been cleared to play for Wimbledon after the Dutch FA decided yesterday AZ Alkmaar had no valid claim against the striker for breach of contract. The Dutch first division outfit had maintained that Connolly had given a commitment he would play for them this season before changing his mind and opting for a return to English football.

After yesterday's meeting, a spokesman for the association said the two versions of events presented at the hearing were so different as to make it impossible to be sure what had happened. As there was no proof of a deal, however, Connolly was free to play for Terry Burton's side and he is now expected to make his debut at Northampton this evening.

Limerick's future was finally resolved yesterday when it was announced that agreement had been reached with the Limerick and District League over the terms by which the club will play its games at Jackman Park next season. Talks had been going on for the past two weeks but a deal was finally hammered out on Thursday night and it is now intended that the ground will be extensively developed as the club's long-term home.

Matters off the field, meanwhile, still remain a little confused, but it does look increasingly likely that Tommy Lynch will again manage the side for the forthcoming campaign although he insists that nothing will be agreed until he is paid money owed by the club. That is expected to happen on August 3rd. "My position has not changed," said Lynch yesterday. "When they pay me for last season we can talk about this season. They've said they will be able to do that on August 3rd which is obviously very late to be getting started on preparing the team but that looks like being the way things have to be done."

Several of last year's panel are believed to be considering joining junior clubs in the city while two or three, including Anthony Tobin, are said to have had talks with Dave Connell about a move to Galway United. Limerick, meanwhile, have denied reports they are pulling out of the under-21 league.

Galway United are reported to be involved in merger talks with one of the city's most prominent local sides, Salthill Devon. United have had considerable financial difficulties in recent months and were previously reported as having decided to drop their youth development structures. Now they look set to link up with one of the best known schoolboy set-ups in the country with an official confirmation of the deal expected within the next two weeks.

The move would give United access to Salthill's training facilities as well as its 23 schoolboy and junior teams but there is some concern amongst supporters of the National League club that United is effectively being taken over.

United chairman, Gerry Gray, declined to comment on the story yesterday but did confirm there will be a press reception on Tuesday week when "the whole club will be relaunched".

"Nobody wants to talk about soccer around Galway right now but we have a new manager, a new board and we will have some new players and we will unveiling all of them the week after next."

Newcastle United have retaliated to the persistence of Leeds United by informing the Yorkshire club they will have to raise in excess of £25 million sterling to prise Kieron Dyer away from St James' Park.

Fabrizio Ravanelli is set to make his Derby County debut in a friendly at Stoke City next Saturday after finally completing his protracted transfer from Lazio yesterday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects to sign a new contract before the start of the premier league season on August 18th. However, Martin Keown was charged yesterday with two counts of violent conduct by the FA. The charges relate to Arsenal's match with Leeds on May 5th last season, when Keown was involved in several clashes with Mark Viduka.

The FA also announced yesterday it had charged Glenn Hoddle's agent, Dennis Roach, with breaching five regulations following an investigation into two transfer deals.

The hosts Colombia beat the Copa America's surprise package Honduras 2-0 to set up a clash with Mexico in tomorrow's final.