News round-up: Bobby Robson has told close friends he is out of the running for the role of director of football at Hearts, after yesterday expressing concern about the impact of recent boardroom events at the troubled Scottish Premier league club.
Robson was an early front runner for the position left vacant when George Burley departed less than a fortnight ago but, after the chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes left on Monday, Hearts's majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov has personally taken up the search for a new manager.
The former England manager is known to have been concerned about Romanov's reported meddling in team affairs.
Anderton was especially keen to have Robson in place, but Romanov has different ideas. The Lithuanian always insisted that the first candidate to show an interest would not automatically be chosen, and Robson will, for the second time in five months, miss out on the opportunity to manage the Edinburgh club because he turned down Hearts before Burley was appointed.
Confirming a series of positive meetings with Anderton, Robson said yesterday: "I know George Burley very well, and I got to know Phil Anderton equally well. I liked him enormously; he is a top man and I went home and thought 'I could work for him'. He's intelligent, forthright and honest. But he has lost his job and that gives me a lot of concern."
Celtic striker Craig Beattie is facing six weeks of rehabilitation after tearing a hamstring at Dundee United on Sunday.
The news will come as a blow to Gordon Strachan who has watched the young striker blossom this season, scoring seven goals so far this campaign.
Meanwhile, midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has been called up to play in a friendly in Tokyo against Angola three days before the Old Firm encounter with Rangers at Parkhead on November 19th.
Walsall manager Paul Merson has said he will not stand in Steve Staunton's way of joining the Republic of Ireland management set-up should the FAI make an approach, saying: "Everybody who plays football would love to manage their country one day, so if it came along, then of course I'd let him go."
Jay Jay Okocha is pushing for a place in Bolton's starting line-up against Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Cup after recovering from a groin injury. Stelios Giannakopoulos is also in contention after he was rested on Saturday when the team won at Charlton.
Henrik Pedersen is doubtful for the game because of an Achilles injury while Ivan Campo and Nicky Hunt remain sidelined.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will rely on teenage defender Matthew Bates once again for their Uefa Cup tie against Dnipro at the Riverside Stadium (live on Setanta Sports, kick-off 8pm).
The 18-year-old turned in an excellent display in the 4-1 demolition of Manchester United on Saturday and with Gareth Southgate (groin) and Ugo Ehiogu (knee) both injured, seems certain to keep his place.
Middlesbrough will also be without the suspended Abel Xavier, the ineligible Fabio Rochemback and Ray Parlour (knee), while McClaren will make changes as he attempts to keep fresh legs for Sunday's Premiership trip to Everton.
West Ham manager Alan Pardew has signed a new five-year contract at Upton Park.
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