Soccer Shorts

Reid may be sold: Newly appointed Nottingham Forest manager Gary Megson conceded yesterday that he might have to allow Ireland international Andy Reid to leave the club during the coming weeks if interest from leading English Premiership sides in the attacking midfielder is confirmed, reports Emmet Malone.

There were renewed reports in Nottingham yesterday that Tottenham have tabled a bid of £4 million for the Dubliner, who has also been linked with possible moves to Aston Villa and Charlton.

Megson didn't comment on the story directly, but said that while, "any manager will tell you he wants to keep his best players, but that's not always possible - perhaps because a player no longer wants to stay. People focus on Andy Reid, but there are other good players at this club and I'd expect Premiership clubs to have an interest.

"Everybody wants to hang on to their better players, but you have to consider the players themselves. If a player gets the chances to move to a huge football club and you deny them that, then what you are left with is not the same player."

Megson also faces a battle to hang on to highly rated central defender Michael Dawson, but with the pair valued at anything up to £10 million and his new team six points adrift of fourth bottom in the Championship it is believed that he may well opt to sell with the intention of bringing in several new faces.

Molloy deal in doubt

Derry City's hopes of signing Drogheda United midfielder Barry Molloy were put on hold yesterday after a last-minute glitch with the transfer, reports Emmet Malone.

City manager Stephen Kenny had agreed terms with Paul Doolin and Molloy, but a problem subsequently arose and Kenny said last night that he is not sure whether he will be able to sign the player after all.

"We were hopeful of getting it done, but I'm not so sure now," said Kenny. "He's a good player and a local lad, so we're keen to have him, but for the moment I'm not quite sure that there's much we can do about it."

Kenny, meanwhile, denied reports that central defender Paddy McLaughlin had been released by the Candystripes. "He certainly wasn't let go, but I gave him permission to talk to Newry Town. He has a year to go on his contract and he's done well for the club, but I need to free up a bit of the budget and that would happen if he moves on.

Bray Wanderers, meanwhile, have announced the signings of former UCD, Drogheda United and Dundalk player Robbie Dunne and 26-year-old goalkeeper Niall Hobbert, who has also been with three National League clubs since returning from England where he had spells with Peterborough United and Leicester City.

Video use a turn off

Europe's refereeing chief is opposed to the use of video replays for goal-line decisions, but he does see potential in a new idea to put a microchip sensor in the ball.

"I look positively at new aids if they help us along -- if, for example, we could send a signal to a referee's wristwatch," said Volker Roth, chairman of UEFA's referees committee.

"But I don't like instant video replays. Football is a fast-flowing game, which should not be chopped up or constantly interrupted."

Niemi's apology

Southampton's goalkeeper Antti Niemi has sent an apology to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson after making it clear he has not been touting himself as an imminent Old Trafford star.

The goalkeeper is furious after a Sunday newspaper ran a "come-and-get-me-story" after he was asked what he thought he would do if United came in for him. "Quite honestly I feel like refusing to talk to the press ever again now," said the £4 million-rated ace "But what concerns me most is what Sir Alex would think of me. I must apologise to him."

Cup motivation

Scottish third division side East Fife have been handed a massive incentive for causing an upset against Dunfermline in their Scottish Cup third round replay, after they were handed a home tie against Celtic in the last 16.

SCOTTISH CUP (Fourth Round draw)

Aberdeen vs Inverness CT; Ross County or Airdrie vs Clyde; Queen of South vs Gretna or Dundee Utd; Ayr Utd or Stranraer vs St Mirren; Partick or Hearts vs Kilmarnock; Alloa vs Livingston or Morton; East Fife or Dunfermline vs Celtic; Hibernian vs Brechin.

Matches to be played weekend of Feb 5th.

In brief . . .

Norwich have completed the signing of Crewe's Dean Ashton for £3 million.

Russia's Dmitri Bulykin will move to Crystal Palace if he impresses during training this week. West Brom have completed the free transfer signing of Everton striker Kevin Campbell. Darren Huckerby has reassured Norwich fans he is "not going anywhere".

And Aston Villa midfielder Gavin McCann has been ruled out of action for around six weeks, due to a knee problem.