Sport

Morrison moves to Coventry City

SOCCER SHORTS: COVENTRY CITY have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison on a two-year deal.

Fri Aug 08 2008 - 01:00

SOCCER SHORTS:COVENTRY CITY have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old has agreed terms with the club and will go straight into manager Chris Coleman's squad for the first game of their Championship campaign against Norwich tomorrow.

Morrison, whose contract with former club Crystal Palace expired at the end of last season, scored 17 league goals in 2007/08 despite an injury-hit campaign.

Clattenburg out of Community Shield

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REFEREE MARK Clattenburg will not take charge of Sunday's FA Community Shield and will not officiate at any matches "pending enquiries into the background" of reports concerning alleged debts of companies connected to him, the Football Association and Professional Game Match Officials Limited have announced. Peter Walton will take over as referee for the Community Shield.

A joint statement from the FA and PGMO read: "PGMO is aware of media reports concerning alleged debts incurred by companies connected to referee Mark Clattenburg. It has been decided he will not officiate at any matches pending enquiries into the background to these reports."

Clattenburg's firm MC Electrical Retail NE Ltd was wound up under the Insolvency Act on June 27th, Newcastle County Court confirmed.

Friend John Hepworth took legal action in a bid to recover a debt reported to be almost €76,000.

Givens plans for future campaign

DON GIVENS had an eye on the next European Championship qualifying campaign yesterday when he named a young 18-man squad for the friendly match against Austria on Tuesday week.

The game represents his side's last chance to prepare for the European qualifiers against Bulgaria and Portugal next month but, with qualification out of the question, Givens has decided to start laying the groundwork for next time around. He said: "We have decided to go with the younger group as part of the build-up to the next campaign."

Squad:S Henderson (Bristol City), S Redmond (Notts Forest), S Coleman (Sligo Rovers), S Madden (Shamrock Rovers), E Nolan (Blackburn), D Dennehy (Cardiff), S Lowry (Aston Villa), I Bermingham (UCD), J Ryan (Accrington), O Garvan (Ipswich), J O'Keefe (Blackburn), J McCarthy (Hamilton Acad), J Berrett (Huddersfield), M Spillane (Norwich), S Scannell (Crystal Palace), C Sheridan (Celtic), K Treacy, A Judge (both Blackburn).

Ireland to host U-19 tournament

THE FAI have confirmed details of this month's under-19 international tournament to be staged between the 18th and 21st at Athlone, Longford and Tullamore.

European under-17 champions Spain, the Ukraine and Portugal will compete with Ireland at the event as all four sides prepare for the European championship qualifiers in the autumn.

Squad:G Hanley (Salthill Devon), K Thorp (Crystal Palace), G Gunning (Blackburn), L Gaughan (Celtic), D McCrory (Plymouth), D Kelly (Norwich), D McNamara (Drogheda), C Clifford (Chelsea), G Morrissey (Blackburn), I Daly (Manchester City), J O'Brien (Birmingham), J Devitt (Hull City), K Byrne (Hibernian), M Collins (Triestina, Italy) N Walsh (unattached), P Madden (Bohemians), P Murphy (Ipswich), S O'Connor (Liverpool), C Morris (Newcastle), L Oyebanjo (Histon FC).