Soccer Shorts

SOCCER SHORTS: Former Republic of Ireland international Denis Irwin is close to agreeing a new deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Manager Dave Jones yesterday unveiled new signing Isaac Okoronkwo and then revealed that veteran players Irwin and Paul Ince are close to signing new deals.

The former Manchester United pair helped the side end their 19-year exile from the top flight last season by winning promotion via the play-offs.

Nigerian defender Okoronkwo (25) has moved from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk and should link up with former Arsenal defender Oleg Luzhny, who has agreed a move but is awaiting a work new permit.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie, who has been released by Blackburn, will be unveiled as a Leicester City player today after agreeing a two-year deal.

Bramall Lane to be partly closed

Sheffield United will have to keep part of their Bramall Lane ground closed until the end of next season as punishment for the behaviour of fans who fired flares that injured a young woman, the FA said yesterday.

The first division club admitted two charges of breaching FA rules, the most serious of which took place against city rivals Sheffield Wednesday on January 17th, when marine distress flares were fired from sections G and H of the Laver Stand.

The FA said this created a highly dangerous situation and "as a result, blocks G and H . . . will be closed forthwith until the end of the 2003-04 season and will not reopen until CCTV facilities are upgraded to the satisfaction of the FA. "

Sinclair goes to Middlesbrough

Trevor Sinclair will leave West Ham for Middlesbrough this week for a fee of £2 million. The 30-year-old England international winger will become Middlesbrough's first summer signing and the second high-profile departure from Upton Park after Lee Bowyer's move to Newcastle United. The fee will only make a dent in West Ham's debt and Frederic Kanoute, Jermain Defoe and Joe Cole are still all expected to go. Les Ferdinand has already had talks with Leicester City.

Sinclair, who knows Boro's manager Steve McClaren from the England set-up, was seen as one of the under-achievers in Glenn Roeder's relegated West Ham team. But he now has the chance to recover from his post-World Cup slump and will fill the space on Middlesbrough's right side vacated by Geremi. One Sunderland player who has moved is Emerson Thome, who is on trial with Rangers.