SOCCER SHORTS:FRANK RIJKAARD will replace Bulent Korkmaz as coach at Galatasaray, the Turkish club said yesterday.
“Galatasaray professional football team has appointed Frank Rijkaard technical director. We wish him success in his new role,” said a brief statement on the club’s website.
Former Barcelona coach Rijkaard was set to sign a two-year deal following the club’s failure to reach agreement with Juande Ramos and Bernd Schuster.
Foley extends deal with Wolves
KEVIN FOLEY has agreed a new four-year contract with Wolves. The 24-year-old defender joined the club from Luton in 2007 and had a year remaining on his deal with the newly-promoted English Premier League side.
CIRO FERRARAbecame the latest inexperienced coach to land a top European job when he was confirmed as the permanent manager of Juventus yesterday.
The 42-year-old former Juventus defender and Italian international took over as caretaker coach after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri last month and won his two games in charge to help Juve finish second in Serie A and clinch an automatic Champions League place.
MANCHESTER CITYhave signed a new 10-year shirt sponsorship deal with sportswear manufacturers Umbro.
Umbro replace Le Coq Sportif as the club’s supplier with the new kit to be unveiled on July 18th while the club tour South Africa.
SPL pay money owed by Setanta
THE SCOTTISH Premier League will pay €3.4 million from their own funds to their 12 member clubs after failing to receive money owed to them by Setanta.
The SPL board met yesterday where they looked at what funds they had available and took the decision to distribute the cash in an attempt to ease the financial pressure on the top-flight clubs.
Setanta were due to make the final payment of the season for showing live games on Monday but that €3.4million instalment had still not been received last night.
The Irish broadcasters are believed to be working behind the scenes and negotiations with the SPL will continue over the weekend.
It is understood the SPL board has had updates from their financial and legal advisers and will see what develops over the next 48 hours.
Setanta want to renegotiate their four-year deal with the SPL after losing one of their contracts with the English Premier League.
Owners' losses won't deplete Liverpool's budget
RAFAEL BENITEZ’ transfer budget will not be reduced as a result of the alarming losses suffered by Liverpool’s parent company, Kop Football (Holdings) Limited, though its limitations were exposed again when his main target, David Silva, opened talks on a proposed move to Real Madrid.
Kop’s €48.7 million losses for the year ending July 2008 raised not only accountants’ fears for the company should Tom Hicks and George Gillett fail to secure a refinancing deal this July, but supporters’ concerns for the impact on Liverpool’s spending power.
As was the case even before the Americans purchased Liverpool from David Moores, chairman and majority shareholder in 2007, the club has this year again budgeted for a net spend of €23 million plus whatever the manager can raise through player sales. Liverpool have signed Albert Riera and other players since July 2008 – and are expected to spend around €46 million in total again this summer.
Hicks and Gillett are acutely aware of the need for Champions League football each season, with its riches essential to the club’s increasing turnover, but while Benitez’ budget compares favourably with most Premier League clubs its static level highlights how others are leaving Liverpool trailing in this summer’s market.
Meanwhile. Andrea Dossena, an €8 million flop from Udinese last summer, has confirmed he is among those sold to swell Benitez’ budget.
