Soccer Shorts

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

Villa smash their transfer record to bring in Bent

ASTON Villa have smashed their transfer record in signing Sunderland striker Darren Bent in a deal which could eventually be worth €29 million.

Villa are splashing out an initial €21 million for Bent but additional add-ons mean the final figure could rise by another €8 million.

The striker is in line to make his debut in Saturday evening’s home Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The four-and-a-half year deal was completed yesterday after Bent (26) agreed personal terms and passed a medical.

Bent’s capture surpasses Villa’s previous transfer record of €14 million for James Milner (Newcastle) and Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) respectively.

Bent moved from Tottenham to the Stadium Of Light 18 months ago and scored 25 goals in his first season for the Black Cats.

He has been less prolific during the current campaign but has scored 81 Premier League goals in the last five seasons.

Pienaar seals move to Spurs

STEVEN Pienaar completed his move to Tottenham last night after signing a four-and-a-half-year contract with the London club. The 28-year-old midfielder passed a medical at Spurs’ Chigwell training ground before putting the finishing touches to his transfer from Everton for a fee believed to be between €3 million and €3.5 million.

Earlier confirming his destination on his Twitter account, Pienaar said: “To end speculation I am going to Spurs. I’ve had brilliant years at Everton and it will always be a special place in my heart.” He later added: “I can also confirm I’ll be jersey number 40.” Confirming the completion of the transfer on their website, Spurs said in a statement: “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Everton and Steven Pienaar for the player’s transfer to the club.”

Pienaar could make his debut in Saturday’s Premier League game at Newcastle and his arrival could mean that Niko Kranjcar moves on having fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

West Ham now '100%' behind Grant

CO-OWNER David Sullivan yesterday insisted the entire West Ham board were “100 per cent” behind Avram Grant, despite the club having actively tried to replace him as manager.

The Hammers were forced into an embarrassing climbdown yesterday as they finally decided to give Grant a formal vote of confidence after reportedly being snubbed in their efforts to bring in Martin O’Neill.

Grant had appeared on the brink of the sack at the weekend, amid claims O’Neill had been lined up to succeed him.

But Sullivan said on ESPNsoccernet: “The entire board is 100 per cent behind Avram. He is a really decent person who deserves our support. West Ham United is a club that does the right thing and the right thing at this time is to support the manager.

“We will do all we can to bring in players over the next 12 days and, once we have achieved that, we hope it will keep us up.”

Drogheda rescue shares sales pick up

INTEREST in the sale of shares to save Drogheda United is said to have picked up yesterday after those leading the rescue attempt insisted if the €200,000 target was not achieved by the end of the month the club would cease to exist, reports Emmet Malone.

Concerns were raised on Monday night when only 40 people, including the organisers, turned up at a public meeting to promote the initiative.

Club officials accept that having survived previous difficulties, there may have been a “boy that cried wolf” element to the attitude of those who stayed away but, after issuing a statement yesterday morning in which they stressed the seriousness of the threat to the club’s existence, it appears that their message was getting through.

“We’ve had a good response which is encouraging,” said a club spokesperson, “but we’re a long way from the target.”

CAS uphold ban on referee Oriekhov

THE referee who failed to disclose an approach from an illegal betting group prior to taking charge of a Europa League match has lost his appeal against a life ban from the game.

Ukrainian official Oleg Oriekhov had taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Uefa banned him for life last July, but CAS yesterday ruled in favour of Europe’s governing body.

Oriekhov refereed the Group E clash between FC Basle and CSKA Sofia on November 5th, 2009, a match Basle won 3-1.

It was established that both before and after the game, criminal groups contacted Oriekhov regarding an offer to manipulate results in return for money.

Oriekhov had not denied failing to report the contacts, but claimed he did so because of poor English and because he was unaware of who he should go to. CAS rejected this.

Rafael accepts FA charge

MANCHESTER United full back Rafael has accepted an English FA charge of improper conduct for his actions after he was sent off in the 0-0 draw with Tottenham on Sunday. The 20-year-old was sent off for two bookable offences by referee Mike Dean. But the official also took a dim view of the youngster’s conduct and feels the remonstrations which followed his decision were worthy of further action.

Rafael, in accepting the charge, has admitted he was in the wrong.

However, he has requested a personal hearing, which will be on Friday, when he will get the chance to present his side of the story.

United will definitely be without Rafael for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Birmingham at Old Trafford. Should the disciplinary panel feel the defender’s conduct to be worthy of further punishment, he could also sit out next Tuesday’s trip to Blackpool.

Liverpool accept offer for Babel

LIVERPOOL have accepted a bid from Bundesliga club Hoffenheim for their Dutch forward Ryan Babel and the 24-year-old has travelled to Germany to discuss personal terms, the club confirmed yesterday.

Babel joined Liverpool for around €12 million from Ajax Amsterdam in 2007. However, despite showing occasional flashes of his ability he has been unable to establish a place in the Liverpool first team.