Soccer Shorts

Picking up Tabb: Brentford midfielder Jay Tabb is the only newcomer to Don Givens' Ireland under-21 squad for next week's friendly international in Scotland.

The London-born 20-year-old has scored 11 times in 40 first-team appearances during the season just ended and Givens said that he had been impressed with the quality of his performances.

"He's been a regular in their side for the last two seasons and has scored a few goals," added the manager. "He's delighted to be coming over and I'm looking forward to having a look at him."

The inclusion of Waterford United's Darryl Murphy in Givens' squad means that the striker will probably have to cut short his involvement with the Pat Devlin-managed league representative side which is currently in Scotland for a four-nation, semi-professional tournament.

Murphy, though, could still be involved in today's game against England for which Devlin expects to have a full squad to choose from, although Bohemians striker Robbie Doyle is only due to join up with the squad this morning after having been involved in last night's league cup win over Drogheda.

Cobh Ramblers, meanwhile, have become the second club in this season's League Cup to be docked three points for fielding a player who was supposed to be suspended. Eoghan Conlon will now miss this evening's game against the Kerry League.

Under-21 squad: Henderson (Aston Villa), B Murphy (Swansea City), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Capper (Scarborough), Brennan (Newcastle United), Paisley (Longford Town), McCarthy (Manchester City), Foley (Luton Town), Potter (Liverpool), Foley (Liverpool), Whelan (Manchester City), Keegan (Leeds United), Kearney (Cork City), D Murphy (Waterford United), Tabb (Brentford), Mehmet (Dunfermline Athletic), Elliott (Manchester City).

Pleat to leave

David Pleat is to part company with Tottenham Hotspur after the London side offered PSV Eindhoven's Frank Arnesen the job of general manager. Pleat had expected to return to the role of director of football he occupied for six years before this season's unsuccessful spell as acting manager, a post he assumed following the dismissal of Glenn Hoddle.

The boardroom post of director of football will be scrapped, with Arnesen instead acting as a continental-style general manager. The Dane has spent most of the past 19 years at PSV and is also believed to be a softer option than Pleat for any incoming manager.

New club event

A revamped World Club Championship with six teams will be held in Tokyo from December 2005 with £10 million prize money on offer, FIFA have announced. Three months after announcing the bare bones of the competition, FIFA confirmed last week that it will take place from December 11th-18th next year and that all six confederations had agreed to send their champion clubs. The annual championship will replace the current World Club Cup, which has been played between the champions of South America and Europe most years since 1960. Those games have been staged in Tokyo since 1980. The European and South American champions will now join those from Africa, Asia, Oceania and CONCACAF in the tournament that has so far been staged once in Brazil in 2000.

In Brief. . . Leicester City yesterday bowed to the inevitable and released 13 players following relegation, although they have confirmed that Les Ferdinand will be offered a new deal . . . Fernando Morientes, injured in Monaco's 4-1 defeat by Stade Rennes on Saturday, said he was confident he would be fit for the Champions League final against Porto on May 26th. The Spanish striker sprained his right ankle . . . Strikers Sylvain Wiltord and Kanu plus veteran defender Martin Keown will be allowed to leave unbeaten Premiership champions Arsenal in a few weeks.

Tonight's fixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

ENGLISH LEAGUE: Division One play-offs: Semi-final, second leg: West Ham (0) v Ipswich (1).

FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT: Rep of Ireland SP v England National Game XI; Scotland SP v Wales SP.

FAI NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP: Group Stage: Athlone Town v Longford Town; Finn Harps v Monaghan Utd (8.0); Kerry League v Cobh Ramblers (7.30); Kilkenny City v Limerick FC (7.30); Sligo Rovers v Mayo League (7.30).

LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS: FAI NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP: Group Stage: Bohemians 3, Drogheda 1; Dublin City 2, Shelbourne 1; UCD 0, Shamrock Rovers 0.