Soccer Shorts

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

Arsenal fans trust won't sell shares

THE Arsenal Supporters Trust will not be selling their shares to prospective new owner Stan Kroenke after voting “unanimously” to retain a stake in the club.Kroenke triggered a full takeover on Monday when he secured a controlling stake in the club and the American businessman is now obliged to make a mandatory cash offer for the remaining capital.

Arsenal’s board has recommended all shareholders accept the offer, priced at €13,000 per share, but the AST vowed not to relinquish their involvement in the club’s ownership structure.

More than 100 members met in London and an AST spokesman said: “Arsenal is too important to be owned by any one person. The AST wants to work with Stan Kroenke to keep Arsenal supporters involved in the club’s ownership structure.

“The AST and the Arsenal Fanshare scheme will not be selling the shares it owns and urges all supporters to reject this offer.”

Stoke's Fuller available for semi-final

STOKE have been given a boost ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Bolton at Wembley as striker Ricardo Fuller will be available to play.

Fuller, 31, was concerned he could be ruled out of the showpiece match after a confrontation with a supporter on Saturday during the 3-2 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane. However the FA have confirmed there is no case to answer.

*SUNDERLAND defender John Mensah will be sidelined for at least three weeks after it was confirmed he has torn a groin muscle.

The 28-year-old Ghana international, whose time on Wearside has been plagued by injuries, suffered a Grade Two adductor tear just 11 minutes into Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by West Brom.

The defender has proved a key man when he has been fit.

McCoist wins his ban appeal

RANGERS assistant manager Ally McCoist has won his appeal against a two-match ban following his altercation with Celtic manager Neil Lennon after the Scottish Cup replay at Celtic Park on March 2nd.

The ban has now been overturned by the SFA following a meeting of their disciplinary committee at Hampden yesterday. El-Hadji Diouf and Madjid Bougherra of Rangers escaped without further bans.

City expect Tevez back for finale

ROBERTO Mancini is confident Carlos Tevez still has a major role to play in Manchester City’s battle for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Tevez limped out of Monday night’s 3-0 hammering at Liverpool with a hamstring injury sustained as Andy Carroll was driving the Merseysiders in front at Anfield.

Although Mancini is not prepared to write his captain out of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley, he accepts even round-the-clock treatment from City’s medical staff could prove fruitless.

However, the City manager does not feel the damage is so bad it will rule Tevez out of the final six games of their Premier League programme and he expects the South American to be fully fit within a fortnight.

“It will be very difficult for Saturday but he should be okay to return in two weeks,” said Mancini.

Although Tevez has scored just twice in his last 12 games, he is by some distance City’s top scorer this season.

May internationals the target for Doyle's return

WOLVES striker Kevin Doyle has set his sights on playing for the Republic of Ireland in three internationals at the end of the season.

Doyle has virtually ruled himself out of the remainder of Wolves’ battle for survival in the Premier League with a knee ligament injury suffered on international duty last month.

But he is hoping to return for his country in late May, even though he admits his club boss Mick McCarthy may not be too happy.

Doyle said: “If I don’t play for Wolves again this season, I don’t suppose the manager will be too happy to see me get fit and disappear for my country. But I’m going to try to make it.”

The Republic face Northern Ireland and Scotland in the Carling Nations Cup on May 24th and 29th respectively and then tackle Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier on June 4th.