Soccer Digest:GORDON STRACHAN quit as manger of Celtic yesterday. "It has been an absolute honour and privilege to be the club's manager for the past four years," Strachan said.
Strachan joined Celtic from Southampton in 2005 and won three consecutive SPL titles before the team finished as runners-up to Rangers this season.
“We have done all we can to bring success to the club and we were delighted to deliver three SPL titles, other domestic silverware, as well as making some great progress in Europe,” Strachan added.
“It is just disappointing that we did not manage the fourth Championship. However, the players can hold their heads high in terms of what they have done for the club.”
Celtic were well-placed to land the title again this season but a 1-0 defeat by Rangers and two 0-0 draws in their last two matches cost them top spot and an automatic place in next season’s Champions League group stage.
Sunderland say no to Cisse move
SUNDERLAND HAVE confirmed they will not be signing striker Djibril Cisse on a permanent basis.
The 27-year-old Frenchman spent the season on loan at the Stadium of Light from Marseille, and the Black Cats negotiated the terms of a prospective transfer then.
However, chairman Niall Quinn today revealed that they would not be taking up that option.
He told the club’s official website, www.safc.com: “We wish Djibril well and thank him for his contribution to the club this season.”
Cisse made 38 appearances for the club and scored 11 goals, one fewer than strike-partner Kenwyne Jones, but he found the back of the net only once in his last 12 games.
Mourinho keeps Real door open
JOSE MOURINHO has stunned Inter Milan fans by revealing there is a possibility he may not return to coach the club next season.
The Portuguese is under contract with Inter until June 2011 but has been linked in the Spanish media with Real Madrid.
When asked about the chance he could leave Inter, Mourinho said: “There is still a 0.01% (chance). But for me this is not an important number, it just means that I am closer to Inter than to Real. I am satisfied with the relationship with the fans and with my players. I repeat, I am closer to staying at Inter than going elsewhere.”
Real Madrid’s leading presidential candidate, Florentino Perez, has strongly indicated Mourinho will not come to the Bernabeu, however.
Mourinho begs to differ, claiming he did receive an offer from the Spanish giants. “It is not easy because an offer like that makes you think twice,” he said.
“But (Inter president Massimo) Moratti knows the truth. But I am under contract until 2011.”
Duff pledges future to Newcastle
DAMIEN DUFF has vowed to remain at Newcastle United after his own goal sealed the Magpies relegation from the English Premier League.
And the winger wants Alan Shearer to become manager on a full-time basis despite his failure to keep United in the top flight after an eight-game spell at the helm.
Duff said: “I’m as loyal as they come and, whether the gaffer stays or goes, I’d love to try and get Newcastle back up into the Premier League. I don’t know what words can describe the way I feel. I’m devastated. The lads haven’t tasted relegation apart from me at Blackburn and Nicky Butt at Birmingham.
“When it happened at Blackburn, I wasn’t planning on seeing it again in my career. It’s not a nice feeling.
“No disrespect to the Championship, but Newcastle are too big a club to be down there. I plan on being straight back up (in the Premier League) after next season.”
As regards the own goal, Duff said: “You think, ‘why me?’. But I’m a big man, and I’ve been around for a while now, so I’m going to have to get over it.”
Walcott's plan irks Wenger
THEO WALCOTT is at the centre of a dispute between club and country with Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, outraged at the prospect of his player being asked to turn out for Fabio Capello’s England team early next month and then Stuart Pearce’s Under-21s at the European Championship in Sweden.
Walcott is eager to represent his country at any level and wants to be included for the Under-21 tournament, believing it will offer him valuable experience.
But Wenger said it is “not logical” to ask Walcott to play in England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan in Almaty on 6 June and Andorra at Wembley four days later and then join Pearce’s squad.
“I have let it be known to the FA that Theo should not play in both national teams during the holiday period,” said Wenger.
