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

Kenny to be offered new deal

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has confirmed that Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and Steve Kabba will receive new contract offers later this week. The Blades have moved to end speculation surrounding both players with their current deals set to expire in the summer. "We've spoken about them at great length and they will be receiving new offers later this week," said Warnock on the club's official website www.sufc.co.uk. "The deals offered are very good for this club and I hope the players will be realistic."

McLeish gets time to save job

Rangers manager Alex McLeish has been handed some time to save his job by chairman David Murray. The former Scotland international appeared to be on his way out of Ibrox after the disappointing 2-0 League Cup defeat at Celtic last week. Rangers trail Celtic and Hearts by 12 points after a poor run of results - just two wins from their last 11 matches.

But, in the Champions League, McLeish has guided the team to second place in Group H where they have a great chance of becoming the first Scottish club to reach the second phase of the competition.

The Rangers boss will now remain in charge for the SPL trip to Celtic Park on Saturday and the subsequent games at Porto and Hibernian before the end of the month. McLeish met Murray and chief executive Martin Bain in Edinburgh yesterday and has three games to save his job.

Rehhagel to stay with Greece

Otto Rehhagel agreed to continue as Greece coach by signing a new two-year contract and declared "my heart was set on it." The German, who guided the Greeks to an amazing triumph in the European Championships a year ago but failed to qualify for next summer's World Cup, has committed himself to a new deal with the Hellenic Football Federation until at least January 2008. The deal will make Rehhagel the longest-serving national team boss of Greece.

Another injury blow for Arsenal

Arsenal have been hit by a fresh injury blow with Gael Clichy joining fellow left-back Ashley Cole on the sidelines with a suspected fractured foot. Clichy was injured during the France Under-21 team's draw against their English counterparts in a European Championships play-off tie at White Hart Lane last Friday.

The French Football Federation yesterday confirmed the 20-year-old full-back had fractured his foot and had returned to Arsenal for treatment. Arsenal, meanwhile, were still carrying out tests on the extent of the injury before making any public comment on Clichy's condition. It is not yet known for how long Clichy will be out of action, but any absence would be a significant blow for Arsene Wenger, with Cole already ruled out with a fractured metatarsal bone.

Robson seeks one more job

Bobby Robson insists he wants one last major job before ending his distinguished managerial career. Speaking at the Soccerex conference in Dubai where he was making a guest appearance, 72-year-old Robson admitted he was frustrated to be out of the game. The former Newcastle and Barcelona boss led England to the World Cup semi-finals in 1990 but has now been out of management for more than a year.

"It's been my life, working with players on the pitch," said Robson. "There's another job in me somewhere. I think I've still got my marbles and I'm quite confident."

Robson was fired by Newcastle in August 2004 and recently came close to taking charge at Hearts following George Burley's resignation. "I keep saying I'm not in a hurry to take the wrong job but I'm ready to take the right job," he added. "If it comes, it comes."

Pires wants France recall

Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires is so desperate for a France recall he is even prepared to endure a stint on the bench for Les Bleus. The 32-year-old Arsenal star has been frozen out of the international set-up for more than a year since speaking out against coach Raymond Domenech's tactics in October 2004.

Pires has since missed out on six World Cup qualifiers as well as six friendly matches. Pires knows his only chance to play at the World Cup in Germany next June will be if he is called up for France's friendly against Slovakia on March 1st and he is hoping to follow in the footsteps of striker Nicolas Anelka, who resumed international action this week after a two-and-a-half-year exile. "I am waiting for a sign," Pires told television programme Stade 2. "Even if I am a substitute, I will be happy, I will be delighted."

Sanchez backs Taylor

Maik Taylor has been given a resounding vote of confidence by Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez. The Birmingham goalkeeper made two high-profile errors against Everton and Newcastle in recent weeks that cost his struggling club dear. Instead of gaining a least a draw they lost both 1-0 and are lying second bottom of the Premiership table.

Taylor is expected to take the captain's armband for the North tonight when Portugal are the visitors at Windsor Park in a friendly. "Goalkeepers make mistakes. It is a fact of life," said Sanchez. "They tend to be highlighted more than centre forwards missing goals or defenders missing tackles. Maik has done really well for Northern Ireland."