SOCCER SHORTS:Semi-professional Bangor City striker Les Davies admits his inclusion on the list for a top Uefa honour is "crazy but a great surprise".
At 17-stone and six foot three inches tall, Davies, who is affectionately known as ‘The Truck’, was yesterday named as one of the contenders for the Best Footballer in Europe award alongside Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie.
The 27-year-old, who works full-time making safety equipment, admitted he is still stunned to be included with such illustrious company. “When I saw my name in the middle of those players it was just out of this world,” said Davies. “It just goes to show that anything is possible if you work hard at it. It’s a really good feeling.”
This year’s 32-man long-list was drawn up by one journalist from each Uefa member country voting for their five best players, and even a single nomination – believed to be from the Welsh journalist who voted – was enough to earn Davies a place.
Kennedy believes Keane would be interested in Forest job
Roy Keane would be interested in the vacant managerial post at his former club Nottingham Forest if he was approached by the club’s new owners, according to his representative Michael Kennedy.
The solicitor said Keane (40) would be interested in ending his 18-month exile from management to talk to the club he served for three years as a player in the early 1990s.
“As far as I know, he has not been approached and he has not applied for the job. But I haven’t spoken to him about it so I wouldn’t know for sure,” said Kennedy.
“I can understand why people would link him with the job, being an old Forest player, but I don’t know if he is in the running for it. I thought it was Mick McCarthy until yesterday. Or perhaps Glenn Hoddle, according to some reports. But what I can say is that I think Roy would be interested if he was approached. He is available and I think it would be a job that would appeal to him.”
Fifa give new head investigator free rein
An American prosecutor appointed yesterday as the new head investigator of Fifa’s independent ethics committee will look into the world governing body’s handling of the ISL corruption scandal.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Michael Garcia will be given a free rein to look into the “ethical and moral” issue surrounding the case, and into World Cup bidding.
A Swiss court file last week named former Fifa president Joao Havelange and executive committee member Ricardo Teixeira as having been paid millions of pounds in bribes by ISL, the now defunct marketing company who sold Fifa’s World Cup TV rights.
The report also said there was no question that Fifa and Blatter knew about the payments.
Garcia, the former US attorney in the southern district of New York, was chosen by Fifa’s executive committee ahead of Luis Moreno Ocampo, until recently the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Walcott’s birthdaymay turn out to be unhappy for Arsenal
Arsenal have yet to open new contract talks with Theo Walcott, despite the forward being in the final 12 months of his contract and the club not entitled to receive anything in player development costs if he were to leave on a free transfer.
The England winger’s deal expires on June 30th, 2013 and were he to part company with the club at that time and remain under the age of 24, a tribunal would intervene to fix a compensation fee owing to Arsenal.
Given that Arsenal paid about €16 million to take Walcott from Southampton as a 16-year-old and he has since made 220 appearances for them and 28 for England, a tribunal could be expected to rule that his value has not decreased.
Unhappily for Arsenal, though, Walcott celebrates his 24th birthday on March 16th. For the sake of a few months, they risk losing an eight-figure sum, if they cannot agree to fresh terms with him.
Guardian Service
Mancini impressed with Tevez’ attitude in pre-season
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been impressed by the attitude of Carlos Tevez since the striker’s return for pre-season training.
The Argentinian’s future has again been the subject of speculation but Mancini appears to have no problem with the prospect of the 28-year-old staying.
City’s difficulties with Tevez last season were extensively documented but the forward played a key role in the club’s Premier League title success after returning from a self-imposed exile.
Mancini told City TV: “After January last year the problems with Carlos were finished.Now he has started the pre-season training very well.”
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