Soccer Digest:With a deal of distress on both sides, Lawrie Sanchez and the Irish Football Association parted company yesterday afternoon, leaving Sanchez as Fulham's new full-time appointment and Northern Ireland top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group but without a manager, reports Michael Walker.
There was predictability about the events given that Fulham approached the IFA to have Sanchez as their temporary manager after Chris Coleman's dismissal last month. But it was still a shock to the IFA who have just over three months to find a new manager before their next qualifier against Liechtenstein in Belfast on August 22nd.
Sanchez is understood to be deeply saddened that his efforts to persuade Fulham to allow him to do the Northern Ireland job failed, because it was his feats with the Irish on magical nights at Windsor Park against England, Spain and Sweden which catapulted him back into the limelight. His conversation with the IFA was said to be tearful.
Sanchez has an open-ended contract with Fulham on considerably higher wages than with the IFA and also the promise of investment from Fulham's hierarchy. Two Northern Ireland players, Leeds's David Healy and Aston Villa's Steve Davis, are likely to be Sanchez's first purchases at Craven Cottage.
No replacement has been lined up according to the IFA but speculation immediately centred on former Northern Ireland players managing in England: Jim Magilton, Nigel Worthington and Iain Dowie. - Guardian Service
Duff may be out for six months
Newcastle United yesterday declined to confirm reports that Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff could miss the start of next season after undergoing surgery on a foot injury sustained in his side's 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park on April 14th.
The club merely described the operation, which was performed last Friday, as a "success" and said that the 28-year-old is now recuperating in Dublin.
It was Duff's second operation of the season after he underwent a procedure to repair damaged knee cartilage.
United's caution proves well founded
Alex Ferguson has revealed he snubbed the opportunity to sign Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano because of uncertainty over the deal that was being offered. West Ham were fined a record £5.5 million for breaking Premier League rules when they signed the Argentina duo who, at the time, were part-owned by Media Sports Investment.
"Tevez was offered to everyone," said Ferguson. "We were offered both him and Mascherano but we weren't sure of the deal."
United have become embroiled in a signing storm of their own this week as the search for reasons why Tim Howard did not play against them for Everton last month has continued.
Ferguson has accused those within the Premier League, who claimed they had no knowledge of United's wish for Howard to be omitted at Goodison Park, of "telling porkies".
"There are a few porkies being told because we addressed it with the Premier League at the time," claimed Ferguson. "We could have just let the loan deal run if we had wanted but the boy wanted his future sorting and Everton knew other clubs were interested in him."
Meanwhile, Ferguson has virtually abandoned hope of Gary Neville, who has an ankle injury, and knee injury victim Louis Saha featuring for Manchester United in next weekend's FA Cup final.
Fowler's Anfield affair over
Robbie Fowler confirmed yesterday that his contract at Liverpool will not be extended beyond this season.
The striker's deal runs out in the summer and he has been told by manager Rafael Benitez that he is free to leave the club.
Fowler will play against Charlton tomorrow in his last match at Anfield in a red shirt, and could also feature in the Champions League final in Athens on May 23rd.
Liverpool are on the verge of signing Brazil under-20 captain Lucas Leiva. The 20-year-old midfielder had drawn the interest from Europe after impressing for Gremio in his homeland.
Arsenal trade early
Arsene Wenger has begun his summer transfer activity by allowing highly-rated midfielder Fabrice Muamba to join promoted Birmingham City and agreeing a deal to sign Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Muamba, a 19-year-old England youth international, joined Birmingham on a permanent deal after spending the season on loan at the club. Striker Nicklas Bendtner will return to Arsenal following a loan spell at St Andrews.
Wolves in on the action
Fierce local rivals Wolves and West Brom go head to head for a place in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on May 28th, with the first leg taking place at Molineux tomorrow and the second at St Andrews next week. Derby play Southampton at St Mary's today in the other English Championship play-off semi-final.
In brief . . .
The son of former Italy coach Marcello Lippihas been sent for trial over his involvement with sports management agency GEA World . . . Middlesbrough central defender Jonathan Woodgatewill miss England's Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia next month due to knee surgery . . . Former England goalkeeper David Jameshas agreed a contract extension that will keep him at Portsmouth until 2009 . . . Tottenham defender Michael Dawson(23) has been handed a contract extension to keep him at White Hart Lane until 2012 . . . Real Madridteam-mates will arrive in Israel this summer for a friendly against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team, Israeli media reported yesterday.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)