Soccer Shorts

Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Joe Kinnear as the club's new manager, with the 57-year-old to formally assume control at the City Ground today.

Kinnear, who has also held managerial posts at Wimbledon and Luton, is expected to be introduced to Forest's players and staff today before being formally unveiled as manager at a press conference.

Post postponed

It is hoped that the National League's 22 clubs will hear today which of them have been successful in their attempt to gain the licence they require under the new UEFA-backed scheme aimed at ensuring they are run more professionally.

News of the licensing committee's decisions had been anticipated yesterday, but it was delayed initially by a failure to get the letters posted on Monday and then by a power failure at the FAI's headquarters yesterday which prevented staff from using the computers, photocopiers or, at one stage, because of the security system used in the building, from opening the front door.

Rovers return

Shamrock Rovers have confirmed that the club will start the Premier Division season using Richmond Park for its home games.

The club, which continues to work towards its long awaited move to Tallaght, has had a couple of previous stints in Inchicore, the last of which ended after crowd trouble prompted objections from local residents.

Pay to play

While negotiations were continuing yesterday with Paul Gascoigne's agent over the possibility of the former England international guesting for St Patrick's in the club's pre-season friendly with Leicester City at Richmond Park on Friday evening, the Dublin outfit yesterday launched another attempt to boost revenue from the game.

The club is auctioning the chance for a supporter to play the last 10 minutes of the game for the home team against the English side. Bids can be lodged at the club's website (stpatsfc.com) or by post to its offices on Emmet Road. Bidding opened at €500 yesterday afternoon and by 7.15 p.m. last night had reached €750.

Carr to stay put

Tottenham skipper Stephen Carr has given his embattled club a huge morale boost by broadly hinting he could stay on at White Hart Lane next season.

The stylish defender has revealed his belief that Tottenham's signing of £7 million striker Jermain Defoe shows the London club are ready to match his own ambitions.

"The Defoe signing is a clear testament to where the club wants to go, and that has got to be Europe," said Carr. "It is a great capture and for the sort of money you would only expect the top three or four clubs to be spending at the present time."

Northern power

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez has named a 24-man squad for the friendly against Norway at Windsor Park next week.

Taylor (Birmingham City), Carroll (Manchester United);McCartney (Sunderland), Hughes (Newcastle United), Craigan (Motherwell), Baird (Southampton), Kennedy (Wigan), Murdock (Hibernian), Griffin (Stockport),

Williams (Wimbledon); Gillespie (Leicester City), Hughes (Crystal Palace), Jones (Crewe), Whitley (Sunderland), Mulryne (Norwich), Johnson (Birmingham City), Sonner (Nottingham Forest); Healy (Preston), Smith (Glentoran), Kirk (Hearts), Hamilton (Portadown), Elliott (Hull),

McVeigh (Norwich), Quinn (Willem II Tilburg).

In brief. . .

Livingston have made six players redundant and asked others to take a wage cut, a week after beingplaced into administration. Celtic's Shaun Maloney has revealed he will sign a two-year contract extension next week. And holders AJ Auxerre - who had not conceded a goal in their nine previous games - were dumped out of the French Cup yesterday by fourth division side Brive.