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Chawke promises Keane big cheese

ROY Keane appears to have had his demand for a lavish summer transfer kitty granted by Sunderland's Irish backers.

Charlie Chawke, a key member of the Drumaville consortium which owns the club, yesterday pledged to raise the cash required to finance Keane's proposed spending.

"If £50 million is what Roy needs then that's it," said Chawke. "He can't do it without the money and, some way or other, he must get it."

Keane spent £44 million during last summer and this January's transfer window, with some of that investment apparently wasted on several distinctly disappointing buys. Keane presented his list of transfer targets and players he would like to part with to club chairman Niall Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker on Monday.

Grant confident duo will be fit

CHELSEA manager Avram Grant has said striker Didier Drogba and captain John Terry should be fit for the Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow next Wednesday, May 21st.

Terry injured his elbow and Drogba jarred his knee during Sunday's final Premier League match of the season, a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Grant said: "We will have to see at training tomorrow how they are, but John Terry I think will be okay. With Didier Drogba, I don't know how serious it is but I think he will give everything to play in this game."

Jol takes over at Hamburg

Bundesliga side Hamburg have appointed former Tottenham boss Martin Jol as their new coach from next season.

Jol, who has signed a deal until 2010, will succeed Huub Stevens after his fellow Dutchman takes over at PSV Eindhoven at the end of the current Bundesliga campaign. Jol was dismissed by Spurs in October last year after a poor start to the English Premier League season.

Last-gasp winner by last-gasp club

GAVIN SKELTON provided a fitting end to Gretna's Scottish Premier League campaign, and possibly their history, with a superb injury-time winner to defeat Hearts 1-0 at Fir Park last night.

Long-serving Skelton fired into the top corner with the last kick of the match as the club threatened with closure clinched their fifth win of the season.

Substitute goalkeeper Artur Krysiak had pulled off a superb save to deny 10-man Hearts and Gretna now need a late rescue off the pitch with a buyer needed by the weekend.

Larsson back for Sweden

FORMER Celtic and Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson is set for a shock return to international football after being named in Sweden coach Lars Lagerback's preliminary squad for Euro 2008.

Larsson (36), retired from the international stage in 2006 but has made himself available for selection after hitting 21 goals in 46 games for Helsingborg.