SOCCER SHORTS:Leeds have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from QPR for an undisclosed fee.

The 34-year-old has agreed a three-year contract to link up with former Rangers manager Neil Warnock at Elland Road.

Kenny was named Rangers’ player of the year as they secured promotion back to the Premier League in 2010/11, and missed just five matches last season.

But QPR’s capture of England goalkeeper Robert Green from West Ham last month has paved the way for Kenny to move back to Yorkshire, having also played under Warnock at Sheffield United.

Kenny said: “I’ve loved every single minute of my time at QPR. It’s been an incredible two years. Winning promotion to the Premier League here is an experience I will never forget as was the rollercoaster ride of avoiding relegation last season.

“Hopefully I’ll be back at Loftus Road as a Premier League player with Leeds United in the very near future.”

Green says players are not free agents

Charles Green’s €7 million purchase of Rangers’ assets included a €2.5 million payment to purchase the contracts and registrations of the club’s players, according to a report by the club’s administrators.

Green’s consortium paid for the club’s employees to transfer to his company under TUPE regulations, which protects employees’ terms and conditions of employment when a business is transferred from one owner to another. However, on the advice of their union, PFA Scotland, numerous players have rejected the opportunity to transfer their contracts from Rangers to Sevco.

Green rejects the claim the players are free agents and has sent letters to clubs across Britain warning them the players who objected to the switch to his new company were in breach of contract.

International clearance for the transfers of Steve Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Jamie Ness, Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith has been put on hold as Green continues to dispute the players’ status.

Rodgers begins talks with Suarez on new contract

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has begun talks with striker Luis Suarez about a new contract and is hopeful the Uruguayan will extend his stay at Anfield.

Suarez’s contract runs until 2016 but Rodgers is keen to tie the forward down to an even longer deal. Rodgers said: “I have had a good conversation with Luis over the phone. From the outset, he has seemed a really good guy. He loves the city and the passion. We have exchanged lots of texts. He sent me a text on the first morning, wishing me good luck. He has really bought into what we are trying to do.”

Rodgers has also opened discussions with defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Fifa to investigate betting fraud after new revelations

Fifa’s chief investigator in England will look into claims by former Southampton skipper Claus Lundekvam that he, team-mates and opposing captains were involved in betting fraud.

In an interview in a Norwegian newspaper, Lundekvam said the players manipulated incidents such as the first throw-in for betting purposes.

Fifa yesterday announced they will investigate the claims.

Lundekvam claimed the spot-fixing took place in Premier League matches in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He told Norwegian TV station NRK: “It’s not something I’m proud of.

“For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of money. We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty. Those were the sorts of thing we had influence over.”

Pardew laughs off Barca Cabaye offer

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has laughed off suggestions that Barcelona could prise French midfielder Yohan Cabaye from his grasp for as little at €10 million.

The 26-year-old proved one of the buys of last season after making a €6 million switch from French double-winners Lille to Tyneside, and further enhanced his reputation on international duty at the Euro 2012 finals.

A report yesterday claimed the Catalan giants could be preparing a €10 million bid for Cabaye, but with the Magpies ready to fend off all but “silly money” offers for their biggest names, Pardew has warned them not to bother.

He said: “The interest is purely speculative. We have had no contact and certainly no offer, and obviously we wouldn’t even consider an offer anywhere near that region.”

Keeper Tim Krul, midfielder Cheick Tiote and striker Demba Ba have also been touted for possible exits.