Soccer shorts

Today's other stories in brief

Moratti fails to persuade Mourinho

MASSIMO Moratti, the president of Inter Milan, has all but accepted defeat in his attempts to keep José Mourinho at San Siro.

Moratti invited Mourinho to his house in Milan for dinner in a final attempt to persuade him to stay for a third season at Inter, having led the club to their Champions League triumph against Bayern Munich on Saturday, but Real Madrid appears to be the Portuguese coach’s next club.

When asked if Mourinho’s working relationship with Inter could be considered to be over, Moratti said after the meeting: “I believe so. The approach of the coach is that of someone who is already thinking of going to Real Madrid.”

“There’s always hope but we have to respect the wish of a person who already thinks his task has expired,” Morratti said.

Lawrence feels it's time to move on

LIAM Lawrence has confirmed he expects to leave Stoke City this summer because of a lack of first-team opportunities. The Republic of Ireland international started only 14 games last season and found himself behind Dean Whitehead and Rory Delap in the pecking order.

“I don’t want to leave Stoke but it is becoming increasingly difficult with other players playing in my position,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for managerTony Pulis and have never fallen out with him in three and a half years at the club. But, purely for footballing reasons, it is time to move on. That is best for both parties.”

Lawrence has been linked with a move to Wolves, which would see him reunited with Mick McCarthy, his former manager at Sunderland. “I am aware of interest from clubs and hope I can stay in the Premier League,” he said.

West Ham owners increase stake

WEST Hams co-owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, have increased their stake in the club to 60 per cent. Sullivan and Gold, who previously owned Birmingham City, bought West Ham from financially-stricken Icelandic group CB Holdings in January. They have both increased their share of the club to 30 per cent from 25 per cent.

GEORGIOS Samaras has performed a U-turn over the prospect of leaving Celtic for Palermo. “I’m delighted that Palermo are interested in me. Of course I would be happy to play for such a club.”

JEAN Tigana has been appointed Bordeaux coach, the Ligue 1 club . Former France midfielder Tigana takes over from Laurent Blanc, who will replace Raymond Domenech as France coach after the World Cup.

MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has quashed speculation linking Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik with a move to Eastlands.

Under-19s face England in Ukraine

SEÁN McCaffrey’s Irish under-19s resume their campaign to qualify for this summer’s European Championships today when they take on England in the first game of their Elite Phase mini-tournament in the Ukraine, writes Emmet Malone.

In the absence Plymouth’s Joe Mason, Barnley’s Jamil Adams as well as Blackburn Rovers midfielder Aaraon Doran, the Irish face tough encounters against England and hosts Ukraine before rounding off their week against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday.

McCaffrey, who has added Dundalk’s Stephen McDonnell and Galway United striker Karl Sheppard to his squad, knows, given the strength of their rivals, it will take big performances from the likes of team captain Conor Clifford of Chelsea, Arsenal’s Conor Henderson and Robbie Brady of Manchester United if his side is to progress given that only the top team will qualify for the finals which are due to be held in northern France in a couple of months time.

Fabregas deal will be arduous

CESC Fabregas wants his requested transfer to Barcelona to be agreed as soon as possible but is expecting the negotiations to be arduous, according to the Arsenal captain’s father.

“He is focused now on the Spanish national team but what he wants is for the transfer to be concluded as soon as possible,” said Francesc Fabregas.

“I don’t know how this is going to pan out but I believe you have to respect the decision and the wishes of the player.”

Ward agrees new deal at Wolves

WOLVES defender Stephen Ward has agreed a new deal that is set to keep him at Molineux until 2013.

Ward (24), who is currently battling back from a knee operation, has made 120 appearances since joining Wolves from Bohemians in 2007.

“To have signed a new deal at the end of a season when weve stayed in the Premier League is brilliant for me,” he said. “I’ve grown to love the club over the three and a half years I’ve been here.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: “Wardy is one of the players who had to make a big step up when he arrived at the club from Bohemians. But he has answered every challenge that has been put in front of him, including reverting to the left-back position and developing his game so much that he looks like hes spent all his career there.

“He did well for us in the Premier League last season, even more so as when he came back from injury he was often having to train and play through a lot of pain.”

Aurelio fails to agree pay-as-you-play deal

LIVERPOOL defender Fabio Aurelio is to leave the club next week after failing to agree a new contract. The 30-year-old became the first Brazilian to sign for the Merseyside outfit when he joined in July 2006 on a free transfer from Valencia.

But his Anfield career was hampered by injuries and he has turned down the offer of a new pay-as-you-play deal. “We had been trying to work something out but it was a pity that we couldn’t,” said manager Rafael Benitez.

“He has given us absolutely fantastic service. The one problem we had with Fabio was that he suffered too many injuries and it was such a pity because he has great quality.”

Aurelio missed the start of last season after sustaining a freak knee problem while playing football with his children and a thigh problem at the end of February prematurely ended his season. He made a total of 23 appearances, including 14 in the Premier League and seven in Europe.