A round-up of today's soccer news

Buckley confident

Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley is quietly confident the relatively experienced squad he's assembled will be competitive in the League of Ireland First Division this season. "We're getting there slowly but surely. We've 21 players signed, I've got most of my staff in, we're back training two weeks and we'd be excited about taking on the First Division," Buckley said at the official launch of the league's newest club last night.

The setting up of the independently funded club and the proposed development by Fingal County Council of a football academy complex are part of the council's Football Development Plan which has been almost two years in the making. An element of that plan would see a long-term proposal being put forward to facilitate the construction of a community sports stadium.

"The thinking on this two years ago was that we are soccer people and we need all the schoolboy leagues tied in with the Premier and First Division," stressed Buckley in drumming up support from all clubs in the area.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for them to engage with Sporting Fingal. The facilities have to ultimately be built by the council. They'll have access to them like we will.

"Sporting Fingal is just one club - one part of the picture. All of those clubs will have access to some of the best facilities in the country. Equally from an expertise point of view we will pass on all our knowledge."

Sporting Fingal will play their games at Morton Stadium.

Plan for colleges

The FAI and IFA yesterday unveiled a joint plan to promote football in third level colleges across the island with both associations set to provide substantially increased resources to the sector. Under the terms of the plan it is intended that colleges will receive help with coaching, training and administrative support so as to involve more students in the game and to improve the quality of third level competitions. "It's both exciting and comprehensive," said John Delaney of the wide-ranging programme which has been drawn up by a committee drawn from both sides of the Border and overseen by the FAI's national co-ordinator for schools, colleges and universities, Gerard Dunne.

Pitch plan for Africa

Sepp Blatter has revealed Fifa are ready to consider the idea of the 2010 World Cup being played on artificial pitches. The president of world football's governing body has expressed concern at the quality of grass surfaces seen in Africa, where long spells of hot sun and drought are frequently followed by torrential downpours.

And Blatter has risked the wrath of the many opponents of "plastic" pitches worldwide by claiming they could even be used in the World Cup in South Africa in three years' time. "We have envisaged, though it's not yet a final decision, that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf," Blatter said.

Blatter claimed his fears were confirmed during the recently-completed African Nations Cup in Ghana. "I've followed with a lot of interest most of the matches of this competition, and I have to say that African football is at a very high level," he said. "What I've not not liked so much is the turf, especially in Accra - the grass is too high."

Setanta schedule

Setanta have unveiled their live television package for the first phase of the 2008 Setanta Sports Cup. This year's competition will break after the matches on April 15th and will recommence on September 1st.

TV Schedule

Tuesday, Feb 26th - Drogheda United v Cliftonville; Monday, Mar 10th - Linfield v Derry City; Tuesday, Mar 18th - Cork City v Drogheda United; Monday, Apr 7th - Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic; Monday, Apr 7th - Glentoran v Linfield; Monday, Apr 14th - Dungannon Swifts v Drogheda United; Tuesday, Apr 15th - St Patrick's Athletic v Linfield.

Dowie sacked

Iain Dowie has been sacked as manager of Championship strugglers Coventry, the club announced yesterday. Coventry are 19th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, following the 1-0 defeat at Preston on Saturday - their fifth loss in six league games. Assistant manager Tim Flowers and Bob Dowie, another member of the backroom staff, have also left the Ricoh Arena, with Frankie Bunn and John Harbin placed in charge of team affairs for tonight'ds league clash at home to Cardiff.

Hammer blow

West Ham United will be forced to plan for the rest of the season without Craig Bellamy as the striker has been told he needs two operations but the Hammers could unexpectedly have Kieron Dyer back before May. The loss of Bellamy, who requires surgery on his knee and groin, is another setback for West Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley.

Leeds appeal.

Leeds United lodged a challenge in the high court yesterday over the Football League's right to deduct the club 15 points for breaking its insolvency rules. The case is likely to lead to a landmark ruling on the courts' jurisdiction over competition rules and whether it can become involved in sporting matters.

In brief . . .

West Ham have appealed against the red card shown to Lee Bowyer in Saturday's Premier League clash with Birmingham. Their case will be heard at Soho Square at 1pm today . . . The FA have confirmed that they will be studying television footage of Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton's clash with Aston Villa forward Shaun Maloney. Barton appeared to lash out during the first half of his side's 4-1 defeat at Villa Park on Saturday but the incident was not spotted by referee Lee Mason . . . Celta Vigo midfielder Borja Oubina's season-long loan with Birmingham has been cancelled by mutual consent.

Soccer fixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

English Championship: Blackpool v Wolverhampton, Colchester v Preston, Coventry v Cardiff, Crystal Palace v Ipswich (8.00), Norwich v Hull, Plymouth v Barnsley, QPR v Burnley (8.00), Scunthorpe v Bristol City (7.30), Sheff Wed v Charlton, Stoke v Southampton, Watford v Leicester, West Brom v Sheff Utd. League One: Bournemouth v Doncaster, Brighton v Tranmere, Bristol Rovers v Oldham, Carlisle v Huddersfield, Gillingham v Luton, Hartlepool v Port Vale, Leeds v Nottm Forest, Leyton Orient v Crewe, Millwall v Southend, Swansea v Walsall, Swindon v Cheltenham, Yeovil v Northampton. League Two: Accrington Stanley v Lincoln, City Barnet v Brentford, Bury v Wycombe, Dag & Red v Chester, Macclesfield v Grimsby, Mansfield v Morecambe, Notts County v Darlington, Rochdale v Hereford, Rotherham v Stockport, Shrewsbury v Milton Keynes Dons.