Young United target left in the dark regarding move

SOCCER SHORTS:ZORAN Tosic yesterday claimed he was not aware of Manchester United's reputed interest in signing him.

Recent speculation has suggested the current European and English champions had already applied for a work permit for the 21-year-old left winger.

The Serbian international, who is seen as being a ready-made replacement for veteran Ryan Giggs, apparently came up short of the initial criteria and it is claimed that United manager Alex Ferguson is set to attend a permit hearing this week to try and convince the British Home Office to grant Tosic permission to move to England.

Amid claims that a €9.5 million deal has been done with his club Partizan Belgrade, Tosic admits he has been left in shock by the reports. "I don't know anything about it," he said. "I heard about that on TV. My friends called me and told me to watch SOS Kanal (a Serbian TV station) and I was surprised. I really don't think about a transfer to United."

RTÉ deny decision made on MNS

RTÉ Head of Sport, Glen Killane, yesterday expressed concern over what he feels was the impression given by yesterday's article in The Irish Timesthat a decision has been taken to move Monday Night Soccer (MNS) from its current slot in the RTÉ schedule, reports Emmet Malone.

"Look," he said, "like every programme that RTÉ makes, MNS will be reviewed now that the series is over. But there aren't any plans at present to move it and whatever decisions that we reach in relation to it will be made in conjunction with the FAI."

The Soccer Writer's Association of Ireland (SWAI), meanwhile, has announced the shortlist for its annual personality and goalkeeper of the year awards.

Predictably, double winners Bohemians feature prominently in the lists with manager Pat Fenlon, captain Owen Heary and goalkeeper Brian Murphy making up half of a personality panel which is completed by St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey along with two more managers, Jeff Kenna of Galway United and Sligo Rovers' Paul Cook. Murphy's fellow contenders for the goalkeeper award are Derry City's Ger Doherty and Matt Gregg of UCD.

The winners of the awards will be announced on December 4th.

Peru given ultimatum by Fifa

PERU have been banned from playing international football, including the 2010 World Cup, over a dispute between the government and football federation.

Fifa has warned Peru they have one month to settle the dispute or they could be expelled entirely.

Peru do not resume their 2010 World Cup campaign until March.

They are currently bottom of the 10-nation South American qualifying group with just one win in 10 matches. Fifa's executive committee will discuss the issue at a meeting in Tokyo next month.

Bundesliga can put shirt on it

THE German Bundesliga has overtaken the English Premier League as Europe's top division for shirt sponsorship revenue, a report said yesterday.

Revenue from shirt sponsorship deals in the six biggest European leagues has dropped but the finance and insurance sector remains the top sponsor despite the global economic crisis.

The report showed the Bundesliga has generated €102.9 million from shirt sponsorship this season compared to the Premier League's €85.5 million.

Liverpool keen on corporate cash

LIVERPOOL will make more money from corporate boxes than new supporters when they finally move to their new 60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park, the club announced yesterday.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's commercial director, said it was estimated more than 50 per cent of income on match days will come from the sale of seats in corporate boxes rather than the increased numbers in mainstream seating.

The new stadium will increase corporate seating from the 3,000 currently at Anfield to 10,000.