Soccer Shorts

The rest of today's soccer news in brief.

Keane's options down to three

Everton and Bolton Wanderers have effectively been left in a straight race with Celtic to sign Roy Keane. Whereas Bolton's interest was made public last week, Everton have made progress only in the last few days towards persuading the former Manchester United captain that he has a future at Goodison Park. And it is understood that Keane has spoken to Gordon Strachan for the first time about the possibility of joining Celtic.

Differences remain in the wage Keane would expect to earn and those on offer. The 34-year-old midfielder is believed to be seeking around £50,000 a week.

... Guardian Service

Essien faces ban for Hamann tackle

Michael Essien faces a three-game Champions League ban after being charged with gross unsporting conduct for his tackle on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann. Uefa decided to hear the case yesterday after studying the officials' reports and video footage of the Chelsea midfielder's challenge.

It is believed to be the first time Uefa has taken retrospective action on a tackle. Uefa's regulations allow for disciplinary action "if the referee did not see gross unsporting conduct and was therefore unable to take any factual decision".

...Guardian Service

McLeish gets stay of execution

David Murray has made a habit of springing surprises during his two spells as Rangers chairman, but he must be acutely aware that his latest one, which will see Alex McLeish remain as the club's manager for the foreseeable future, will not be universally popular among supporters.

McLeish was granted a most unlikely stay of execution after discussions with his chairman late yesterday afternoon, amid the worst spell of results in Rangers' 132-year history.

Murray cited Rangers' progression to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday as the main reason he decided to stick with McLeish, but that is unlikely to pacify an increasingly volatile section of the Rangers following.

The first signs of Murray's reluctance to part with the man, who has brought seven domestic trophies to Ibrox in a four-year period, appeared last week when the chairman rebuffed an approach, albeit a tentative one, from Portsmouth's chairman Milan Mandaric for McLeish.

Thereafter, the club made Scottish football history by virtue of their European exploits, but onlookers still regarded McLeish's position as untenable following a string of poor domestic results.

Indeed, Saturday's 2-2 draw with Falkirk preceded a demonstration from angry supporters outside the Ibrox main stand. Rangers' hopes of retaining their Scottish Premier League title seem an increasingly unattainable dream, yet Murray insists the club's success in Europe, albeit by virtue of a particularly fortunate Group H draw, should not go unnoticed.

... Guardian Service

Bookmaker in talks on Redknapp move

Betfair have held "formative talks" with the English Football Association with regard to betting patterns prior to the appointment of Harry Redknapp as Portsmouth boss.

More than £16.5million was traded on the exchange before Redknapp's return to the club, and the internet bookmakers insist they are happy to co-operate should the FA choose to launch an inquiry into the matter.

"We will advise (the FA) on what went on and, as the sport's governing body, it's entirely up to them if they see a need to investigate," Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said.