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A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Capello wants January World Cup

FABIO Capello believes moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals to January would be logical as a summer tournament would not be viable. The England boss knows temperatures will be too hot for players to do anything else but to lounge around the confines of their hotels while not playing.

Capello does not believe the conditions will be conducive towards a happy squad who can relax and step away from the game during free periods.

The Italian is surprised England’s bid was dismissed out of hand when hosting a World Cup finals in the British summertime would have provided the perfect environment for the tournament. But as Qatar won the bid he believes holding the tournament in January, when most leagues are on a winter break, would be the most viable option.

“It will not be easy for the players to stay all day in the hotel – you can’t run around the hotel,” explained Capello.

“When you stay together for a long time you need to relax to do something different, not only training or playing. That’s why I think it would be a good idea to play in January or February.”

Keane told job is not on line and funds will be available

IPSWICH manager Roy Keane has been assured his job is not on the line and has been told that he will be given funds in January.

Keane has seen his position come under threat following an alarming slump in form.

A 3-0 victory over Leicester last time out helped to ease some of the pressure on his shoulders, but six straight defeats had been suffered prior to that fixture.

That run had seen Ipswich tumble down the Championship table and calls for Keane to be removed from his post intensify.

The Corkman can, however, still count on the full support of his board, with chief executive Simon Clegg claiming the club are happy to continue backing their boss.

“There is no axe hanging over the manager,” he said.

“But it is time to kick on now as we are coming up to the halfway stage of the season.

“Roy will get financial support from the owner (Marcus Evans). If there is someone he wants to bring in, he will get backing.”

Macheda may be heading to Italy

FEDERICO Macheda’s agent claims Manchester United are prepared to allow the striker to return to Italy on loan in January.

The teenager has scored just once in 12 appearances in all competitions this season and has often been linked with a move back to his homeland.

United have previously resisted interest from Serie A, but Macheda’s representative Marcello Bonetto says the Premier League leaders are now keen for the 19-year-old striker to gain more first-team experience.

Fiorentina, Juventus, former club Lazio and Parma have all been linked with offers and Bonetto is waiting to see what transpires when the transfer window opens.

STOKE have signed winger Jermaine Pennant on a permanent deal from Real Zaragoza.

The former Arsenal player arrived at the Britannia Stadium on a temporary deal in the summer after an unsuccessful spell in Spain.

The Potters have now handed him a two-and-a-half-year deal having completed a deal for an initial €2 million, which could eventually rise to €3.3 million.

Preston sack manager Ferguson

PRESTON have terminated the contract of manager Darren Ferguson in a bid to retain their Championship status. The 38-year-old son of Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson arrived at Deepdale in January this year having impressed at Peterborough.

He has been unable to turn North End into promotion challengers, though, and leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, five points adrift of safety.

Preston confirmed Ferguson’s sacking in a statement that read: At a board meeting held today the directors of Preston North End decided to terminate the position of Darren Ferguson as manager.”

BRIAN Laws has stepped down as the manager of Burnley at the request of chairman Barry Kilby.

Laws’s future was plunged into doubt following a home defeat at the hands of former club Scunthorpe, with operational director Brendan Flood confirming talks would be held over the 49-year-old’s future. But the club decided to part company with Laws sooner, confirming yesterday he had been asked to step aside.

Leonardo hails his 'dream' job

NEW Inter Milan coach Leonardo, the former AC Milan boss who joined the European champions last week after Rafael Benitez’s dismissal, said the job was “a dream” after being welcomed like a rock star yesterday.

“I’m a romantic,” Leonardo told his first news conference at Inter’s training ground having arrived to wild applause. “I wasn’t looking for work, I was looking for a dream and this is the biggest challenge there is.”

The Brazilian left Milan in May after his only season in management.

SFA refuse to comment on Dallas

THE Scottish Football Association have refused to comment on reports that Hugh Dallas has lost his appeal against his dismissal as head of referee development.

Dallas was sacked last month following an internal investigation into the circulation of an email relating to the Pope’s visit to Scotland.

Reports claim Dallas received a letter on Christmas Eve telling him his reinstatement was “not in the public interest”.

His appeal was due to be heard by Scottish Football Association president George Peat.

The Catholic Church had called on the Scottish Football Association to sack Dallas if it is proved he sent the “deeply offensive” email about the Pope’s visit.

The Scottish Football Association yesterday refused to comment on the issue other than to confirm last month an investigation was launched and that the matter was being dealt with internally in line with the governing body’s IT policy.

Former World Cup referee Dallas still has recourse to take the Scottish Football Association to an employment tribunal.