Soccer Shorts

Gary Kelly will be missing once again when Brian Kerr assembles his squad in Dublin next week for five days of training, writes Emmet Malone.

The 28-year-old has withdrawn from each of Kerr's previous squads and is omitted this time at his own request, with the player insisting that he needs to recover from various injuries picked up during the season.

Kelly earned the last of his 52 caps against Switzerland late last year, but while he has been reported at various times to have been struggling with a number of injuries, including a recurrence of the shin problems that at one stage threatened to end his career, he has played almost 40 times for Leeds since the World Cup.

His absence, combined with the unavailability of Colin Healy who, like Nick Colgan, is still involved with his Scottish club side, opens the way for Steven Reid to return to the panel after a long lay-off through injury. Richard Dunne is also rewarded for his strong performance against Norway with a place in the panel.

There are no other changes from the squad originally called up for the Norway friendly with John O'Shea, Kenny Cunningham and Gary Doherty, all of whom had to withdraw from the friendly, included again and expected to arrive into Dublin next Tuesday.

Squad: Given (Newcastle United), Murphy (West Bromwich Albion), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Breen (West Ham United), Dunne (Manchester City), Harte (Leeds United), O'Shea (Manchester United), Finnan (Fulham), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Carsley (Everton), Holland (Ipswich Town), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Kilbane (Sunderland), McPhail (Leeds United), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Reid (Millwall), Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Connolly (Wimbledon), Lee (Rotherham), Keane (Tottenham), Crowe (Bohemians), Doherty (Tottenham).

Defoe wants away

West Ham's worst fears began to be realised yesterday when Jermain Defoe became the first player to hand in a transfer request, less than 24 hours after the club were relegated from the FA Premiership.

The England Under-21 striker, who was an ever-present during the season and scored 11 goals, feels he must move on in order to further his career.

Lee Bowyer, the former Leeds midfielder, is also certain to leave when his contract expires at the end of June.

No clear-out at Liverpool

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has promised four new players and no clear-out in the wake of the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The 2-1 defeat at Chelsea has cost the Anfield side around £20 million, but Houllier initially sees no further than replacing four players who are out of contract, even though there were suggestions that Emile Heskey and Jamie Carragher could also be on their way out.

The Frenchman explained: "I think we need at least three players. Patrik Berger, Bernard Diomede and Vegard Heggem are all out of contract in the summer.

"Abel Xavier has already left the club. We will need to replace these players."

Eriksson omits Seaman

Sven-Goran Eriksson yesterday signalled the imminent end of David Seaman's international career by discarding him for England's summer fixtures because he has yet to decide on a contract extension at Arsenal.

Eriksson also insisted that Wayne Rooney gather with the rest of the squad on Sunday, thus further deteriorating his fractious relationship with David Moyes, the Everton manager, who declared only two days ago that medial ligament damage would rule his striker out of the South Africa match and might even end his season completely.

SQUAD: James (West Ham), Robinson (Leeds), Walker (Leicester) Mills (Leeds), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Arsenal), P Neville (Manchester United), Upson (Birmingham), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Bridge (Southampton) Beckham (Manchester United, capt), Gerrard (Liverpool), Scholes (Manchester United), Dyer (Newcastle), Sinclair (West Ham), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Newcastle), Lampard (Chelsea), Murphy (Liverpool) Heskey (Liverpool), Owen (Liverpool), Vassell (Aston Villa), Rooney (Everton), Beattie (Southampton).

Sunderland going under?

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray yesterday refused to rule out the Wearside club going into administration this summer after relegation from the English Premiership. Sunderland's debt is £26 million and growing, and they have the seventh-highest wage bill in England.

"We are doing everything within our powers and taking every decision to ensure that isn't a possibility," Murray said. "Sunderland will implement its financial plan and will do what it has to do to secure its future."

Evicted from the Villa

Aston Villa duo Alan Wright and Ian Taylor were handed free transfers by the club yesterday. Taylor, (34), was a particular fans' favourite at Villa Park while 31-year-old Wright, a defender, also arrived at the club in 1995. During the past two seasons Taylor has been hampered by injuries. He made his final Villa appearance in last weekend's season-ending defeat away to Leeds.