A round-up of today's soccer news in brief

Gillett backs Parry in Anfield boardroom battle

GEORGE GILLETT has publicly backed Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry, in defiance of his co-owner Tom Hicks. The Anfield club were plunged into further boardroom turmoil on Thursday when Hicks wrote to Parry asking him to resign.

Parry responded on Friday morning by branding the attempts to remove him from office "offensive", claiming he had not personally received a letter and learned only of it from the television.

And Gillett has since come out firmly behind Parry, telling the Liverpool Echo: "Rick Parry retains our full support. Any decision to remove him would need the approval of the full Liverpool board which, it should be remembered, consists of six people - myself, Foster (Gillett's son), David Moores, Rick himself, Tom Hicks and Tom junior.

"We have not seen the document in question and we were not party to it . . . I would reiterate that Rick retains our full support."

Ronaldo leads nominations list

MANCHESTER UNITED winger Cristiano Ronaldo leads the nominations for the PFA's players' player of the year. The Portuguese international won the award last term. Arsenal pair Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor are also up for the prize, along with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. The final nominee is Portsmouth goalkeeper David James.

Messi in squad

BARCELONA FORWARD Lionel Messi is set to win his fitness battle for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United on April 23rd. Messi has been named in the Barcelona squad for today's La Liga game against Recreativo Huelva. Midfielder Deco may also be fit for the first leg tie.

FAI agree Four Nations Tournament

THE football associations of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales met last Monday to consider progress and have agreed the Four Nations Tournament between them is likely to commence in 2011 during February and May in one country on a rotational basis with matches to be played as double headers on the same day. Present fixtures congestion prevents a start earlier than 2011.

It was decided the event will be held every second year. The national teams will play each other once with the six matches played as double headers, one in February and two when the competition resumes three months later.