Roman looks homeward

Soccer Shorts:Roman Abramovich is to pay for a £20-million training camp for Russia's national football team in the latest patriotic sports project by an oligarch anxious to keep on the right side of the Kremlin, writes Tom Parfitt in Moscow.

The billionaire, criticised in the past for using his oil wealth to pour funds into Chelsea Football Club while ignoring the sport in his homeland, will pay for the camp through his National Football Academy. He is one of a growing list of super-rich businessmen keen to show their patriotic credentials after the jailing of the oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The camp, to be built next year in Zvenigorod, near Moscow, will include six full-size pitches, tennis courts, a gym, pool, athletics track, two hotels and a residential complex for up to 240 people. - Guardian Service

Gavin up for the job

Fran Gavin, appointed yesterday as director of the new FAI-run League of Ireland, believes the day of Merrion Square getting things right has finally arrived, reports Paul Buttner.

Gavin, who was an apprentice at Derby County before carving a successful playing career back in Ireland with several clubs and is a former PFAI chief executive, starts his new job on January 1st. He will work alongside Noel Mooney, a goalkeeper in the league over the last decade or so, who was yesterday formally appointed national promotions officer for the new league.

"While it's a huge challenge for me, I'm absolutely delighted to take up the position," said Gavin. "I feel that the right people are in the right places in Irish football at the moment to take the whole thing forward. I'm thrilled to be a part of it."

Protest ends quietly

A disgruntled Dundalk football fan threatened to set fire to FAI offices in Merrion Square yesterday in protest at the association's failure to promote the club to the restructured Premier Division.

The man entered the building at around 2pm, when he requested to speak with the media and Dundalk manager John Gill. He eventually surrendered to the Garda at 3.35pm. No damage was sustained to the building accept for furniture and a Christmas tree being doused in petrol. All staff in 80 Merrion Square and adjoining buildings were safely evacuated.

The man was arrested under a public order offence and taken to Pearse Street station.

Bridge not far for Hunt

Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt insists he is looking forward to his side's trip to Stamford Bridge on St Stephen's Day and intends to send a Christmas card to Petr Cech.

The clubs will meet for the first time since their controversial match at the Madejski Stadium in October when goalkeeper Cech suffered a fractured skull following a collision with Hunt in the first minute of the Blues' 1-0 victory. The Czech international is making good progress and is hoping to return to full training next month.

Hunt told BBC Sport Online: "If I see Petr then I would like to talk to him. Privately, not publicly. I have written to him since the game at the Madejski Stadium and I will probably send him a Christmas card."

The 25-year-old is adamant he will relish the game despite having received hate mail and death threats, and is fully expecting a hostile reception from the Chelsea fans: "Thinking of Stamford Bridge won't ruin my Christmas. Chelsea away is a big game and will be a hostile atmosphere but that's good."

Ipswich get green light

Ipswich have confirmed their English League Championship match with Leeds Utd at Portman Road on Saturday will go ahead despite the massive murder inquiry being undertaken by Suffolk Police.

The town is attracting worldwide attention after the murders, apparently connected, of several women, and there were fears the game would have to be postponed because of a shortage of police.

But the club's safety officer Mick Warden said: "I have spoken to the match commander at the Suffolk Constabulary and he says that as things stand at the moment they have no intention of calling off the match. They have enough police resources to cover the game."