Soccer SHORTS

Woodgate wants to go: Jonathan Woodgate has made it clear to Leeds United that he wants to leave Elland Road, after Newcastle yesterday announced they had made a £10 million offer for the centre-half. "We consider it to be a fair price," said Freddie Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman. "Now we just have to wait for their reply."

An answer is likely within the next 48 hours. Leeds are acutely aware that Woodgate is tempted by the prospect of leaving a club in decline for one with Champions League aspirations and, crucially, the Yorkshire club are under increasing pressure to raise money, a situation exacerbated yesterday after Middlesbrough said that their £4 million move for Seth Johnson had collapsed because of a failed medical.

Selling Woodgate would infuriate the Leeds manager Terry Venables and alienate the club's supporters. However, the opportunity to ease their debts might be too much for Leeds to turn down.

Leeds are to appeal against the red card shown to Mark Viduka during Sunday's FA Cup tie at Gillingham after he struck Andy Hessenthaler, the Gills' player-manager, across the face with his arm. Guardian Service

Kirkland out for season

Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury to his right knee.

Kirkland was injured in Liverpool's FA Cup fourth round tie at Crystal Palace on Sunday, which ended 0-0, when he collided with Dele Adebola. Liverpool said it was too early to put a date on how long the 21-year-old goalkeeper would be out of action, but a spokesperson said: "He definitely won't play again this season".

Van Gaal to leave Barca

Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal is to part company with the club, bringing the Dutchman's second spell at the Nou Camp to a premature end.

Barcelona are currently 12th in the Primera Liga, just three points above the relegation zone.

The club's directors met at the Nou Camp yesterday evening following Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo and came to the expected decision to part with van Gaal.

However, he will remain in control of first team affairs until a suitable compensation package has been agreed.

Staunton close to deal

Former Republic of Ireland captain Steve Staunton is set to sign a new one-year contract with Aston Villa. Staunton is close to agreeing a new deal which would keep him at Villa until the summer of 2004.

The former Republic of Ireland captain is no longer guaranteed an automatic first team place, but Villa manager Graham Taylor is an admirer of the former Liverpool player and the influence he has in the dressing-room and on the club's youngsters.

Cudicini's lucky escape

Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini could have been killed by a missile fired on to the pitch during Sunday's FA Cup clash at Shrewsbury, police said yesterday.

A cylinder-shaped, metal object landed just inches from the Italian 15 minutes into Chelsea's 4-0 fourth-round win at Gay Meadow. Chief superintendent Peter Wright, from West Mercia Constabulary, said: "Shrapnel off an object like that is capable of killing.

Gascoigne wings it

Paul Gascoigne has joined the team bottom of China's second division as player-coach. Gascoigne suggested a diet of Chinese delicacies would help him adapt to life with B-league Gansu Tianma in Lanzhou, a largely Muslim industrial city on the fringes of the northwest desert. "I've tried duck's head, I've tried chicken's head, chicken's feet, bats and everything," Gascoigne said. "And hopefully if I keep that up I'll be flying."