Soccer Digest

A round up of today's other stories in brief...

No honeymoon period for Ince

THE GUV'NOR may be no more, but the authoritarian in Paul Ince lives on, as the new Blackburn Rovers manager demonstrated yesterday by warning David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz they will only be allowed to leave on his terms.

The futures of Rovers' prized assets are among several unresolved issues facing Ince as he begins life as a English Premier League manager.

Ince, it emerged at his official introduction yesterday, is contractually obliged to be enrolled on a Pro Licence course by June 2010, but it is the desire of Bentley and Santa Cruz to leave this summer, however, that will impact most on his early days.

"If the players tell me they want to go and I say no, they will have to knuckle down and help this club go forward," said Ince yesterday.

McClaren takes Robson's advice and goes Dutch

STEVE McClaren's rehabilitation began yesterday when he signed a two-year deal to manage the Dutch club FC Twente on the advice of Bobby Robson, a former England manager who reinvented himself in the Eredivisie.

"I've kept in touch with Sir Bobby ever since my Middlesbrough days," McClaren said of the man who had two successful spells at PSV in the 1990s. "He said, 'go there, it will be a very good experience'. He told me, 'go on your own, learn the culture, learn a bit of the language and enjoy the football, because you will'."

McClaren watched Twente play Ajax in the play-offs four weeks ago when a 0-0 draw earned them a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

"For football reasons I would have joined the next day," he said yesterday. "But my family is settled in (England)."

One of his first tasks may be to plug the gap in midfield left by the Orlando Engelaar, who is expected to join Schalke.

McClaren's failure with England has not gone unnoticed by Twente fans, but the president, Joop Munsterman, said it was his club record which earned him the job.

"That is more important than the national team because the national team is something else, especially in England."

Sunderland close in on Meyler

WEXFORD HURLING manager John Meyler is eyeing the Cats on both sides of the water. Meyler, not for the first time in his managerial career, has his eyes firmly focused on the Kilkenny Cats in the Leinster senior hurling final on Sunday week.

But he is also eyeing the Black Cats, because Roy Keane's Sunderland are reportedly interested in signing his 19-year-old son, David.

Keane was an interested spectator at last Friday night's Cork City and Cobh Ramblers League of Ireland, Premier Division clash which City won 5-0.

Keane is reportedly interest in signing young Meyler who played the closing 10 minutes for Cork City in the derby clash.

John, known for his forthright views in defence of Wexford hurling, was non-commital saying, "it's paper talk at the moment. It's a matter between the two clubs."

Rangers are told to think big 

RANGERS HAVE been warned they must meet Fulham's asking price for Steven Davis if they want the Northern Ireland midfielder at Ibrox next season.

The London side have refused to lower their valuation of the former Aston Villa player. They paid Villa €5 million for Davis 12 months ago and want to recoup their investment in the player who was allowed to join Rangers on a loan basis in January.

Rangers have made early moves this summer for Davis, in an effort to have him available for their pre-season programme, but Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has revealed he sees the 23-year-old as part of his first-team plans.

"He will only leave if a club matches our valuation," said Hodgson.

Meanwhile Rangers may face another bid from Cardiff for Kris Boyd before the end of the week after rejecting an initial offer of around €3 million.

Trapattoni to open new RSC stand

THE FAI announced yesterday Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will visit Waterford City next Wednesday.

Trapattoni, whose managerial career spans three decades - and includes 10 league titles, a European Cup, a Cup Winner's Cup, three Uefa Cups, the Super Cup and four national cups - will be honoured with a mayoral reception before officially opening the recently-completed 1,760-capacity stand at Waterford Regional Sports Centre at 7pm.

Earlier in the day, Trapattoni will also be the guest of honour at a lunch hosted by Waterford United in conjunction with the FAI to launch the club's strategic plan 2008/12.

Donadoni faces the sack

ROBERTO DONADONI'S time in charge of Italy is expected to end within a week following the world champions' Euro 2008 quarter-final defeat by Spain.

Donadoni signed a two-year contract extension just before the tournament, but the Italian Soccer Federation would be able to terminate that now at a reduced cost thanks to an escape clause valid for 10 days from the end of Italy's campaign.