Soccer digest
A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rangers re-launch against Brechin
SCOTTISH LEAGUE:Rangers will be re-launched against Brechin tomorrow after Sevco Scotland were granted conditional membership of the Scottish Football Association.
The Scottish Football League announced that agreement had been reached following weeks of discussions, releasing a statement on behalf of the three football authorities.
The SFL, SFA and Scottish Premier League statement read: “We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached on all outstanding points relating to the transfer of the Scottish FA membership between Rangers FC (In Administration), and Sevco Scotland Ltd, who will be the new owners of The Rangers Football Club.
“A conditional membership will be issued to Sevco Scotland Ltd today, allowing Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City to go ahead. Following the completion of all legal documentation, the Scottish Premier League will conduct the formal transfer of the league share between RFC and Dundee FC on no later than Friday 3rd August 2012. At this point, the transfer of Scottish FA membership will be complete.”
North injury blow to Sligo's league hopes
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PRMIER DIVISION:Sligo Rovers’ hopes of lifting their first league title since 1977 were dealt a potentially damaging blow with the news yesterday that striker Danny North is out for the remainder of the season.
Englishman North, who has scored half of league leaders Sligo’s 28 goals this season, damaged knee ligaments in Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Slovak side Spartak Trnava.
The 24-year-old revealed on Twitter yesterday afternoon that, following a scan, the injury was worse than feared and that he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, would need an operation and that his season is over.
Tomorrow’s rescheduled league meeting between St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park has been postponed due to St Patrick’s progressing through to the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
St Patrick’s, who beat Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg 2-1 in Inchicore on Thursday night now play Bundesliga club Hannover 96 in the first leg at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night.
PAUL BUTTNER
City seem in better place than Arsenal after victory in Beijing
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY:Roberto Mancini may be concerned about the state of his Manchester City squad but on the evidence of yesterday’s high-profile friendly against Arsenal in Beijing, Arsene Wenger has more to worry about.
Two goals in three minutes from Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure at the end of the first half allowed a City squad still lacking its Euro 2012 contingent to claim victory in a game that ended in monsoon conditions, with large pools of water appearing across the pitch.
