Soccer Shorts

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

Johnson to keep Wolves captaincy

ROGER JOHNSON will remain as Wolves captain despite manager Terry Connor describing the player’s behaviour as “unacceptable” and claiming the defender was unfit to train on Monday.

Johnson has been disciplined by the club after making what Connor described as “a mistake” with his behaviour on Sunday night in the aftermath of the 5-0 defeat at Fulham.

Scottish FA say Whyte not considered fit and proper

THE SCOTTISH Football Association has stated that Rangers owner Craig Whyte “is not considered to be a fit and proper person to hold a position within association football” following an independent inquiry into the stricken club.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan also confirmed that Rangers face a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.

The findings of the independent inquiry were heard at a special board meeting at Hampden Park yesterday and will now be referred to the judicial panel.

Responding to the SFA statement, a spokesman for Whyte said: “The SFA has indicated it will be writing to Mr Whyte within seven days.

“Until that happens and he has had an opportunity to consider Lord Nimmo Smith’s findings, it would be premature to make any comment.”

O'Shea to wear protective cast

JOHN O’SHEA will face Liverpool on Saturday wearing a protective cast over a broken bone in his hand as Sunderland count the cost of a bruising derby encounter. The 30-year-old suffered the fracture during Sunday’s stormy 1-1 draw at Newcastle. O’Shea finished the game, but went to see a specialist on Monday and has been given the go-ahead to play in the cast.

Howard signs new deal with Everton

EVERTON GOALKEEPER Tim Howard has signed a new contract which will keep him at Goodison Park until 2016, the club have confirmed.

The United States international has been first-choice under David Moyes since arriving from Manchester United, initially on a season-long loan, in 1996.

Howard (33) has made 256 appearances for the Toffees in that time.

“I couldn’t be happier. I’ve had a smile on my face ever since we finalised the deal,” Howard told evertontv.

“When you have a really good relationship in life and both sides are eager to continue and keep that going, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a place that is home for me.”

Injured Dawson likely to miss Euros

TOTTENHAM DEFENDER Michael Dawson is set to miss the rest of the season after the injury he suffered in last night’s FA Cup win over Stevenage was diagnosed as a ruptured ankle ligament.

The centre-back fell awkwardly after jumping with Stevenage player Chris Beardsley and the club confirmed last night he would be out for up to 12 weeks.

A Tottenham statement read: “Scans taken this morning have determined that Michael Dawson is likely to be absent for a period of 10 to 12 weeks.

“The central defender was stretchered off in the first half of the FA Cup tie against Stevenage last night, with it now confirmed that he suffered a ruptured ligament in his right ankle.”

The news also means England international Dawson is now likely to miss Euro 2012. Dawson had only recently returned from an Achilles injury which sidelined him for four months.

Podolski rejected Russian offer

LUKAS PODOLSKI rejected a lucrative offer to join Anzhi Makhachkala in favour of a transfer to Arsenal in the summer, writes Dominic Fifield.

This was despite the money-flushed Russian club having proposed a contract worth twice as much as that to be signed by the Germany forward at the Emirates Stadium.

The 26-year-old is expected to complete a €13m move from Koln to the London club and will commit to a four-year deal that, according to sources in Germany, is worth around €120,000 a week.

Anzhi had been willing to pay him a weekly salary of nearer €240,000 to swap the Bundesliga for the Russian Premier League.

Podolski had apparently said in recent weeks that he was extremely interested in moving to Arsenal, according to his international team-mate and Gunners defender Per Mertesacker.

Guardian Service