A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Long helps Harte make quick impact
FORMER REPUBLIC of Ireland international Ian Harte has acknowledged he owed his debut goal for Reading over the weekend to Shane Long who waived his right to take a second penalty in order to help get his new team-mate off the mark.
Long has inherited the spot-kick duties at the club and got his first of the season shortly before half-time in Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace. But the Irish striker allowed Harte, a regular scorer himself last year while at Carlisle, to take their side’s second penalty of the game during the second half and the defender scored to set reading well on the way to their 3-0 victory.
“I got the nod to take the penalties on Friday when the gaffer asked if I wanted them,” explained Long afterwards.
Harte remarked that: “Longy said he was the penalty taker, but it was nice of him to let me take it and score.”
Moyes facing FA charge
EVERTON MANAGER David Moyes and his assistant Steve Round have been charged with improper conduct following their post-match confrontation with referee Martin Atkinson at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Moyes was furious that Atkinson denied Everton the chance of a sensational winner when he blew for full-time just as Phil Jagielka was about to unleash a shot at the visitors’ goal.
Russia switch to European season
RUSSIAN SOCCER will fall in line with the European season from 2012 after adopting a format running from August to May with a mid-winter break, the countrys football association (RFU) announced yesterday.
The RFU’s executive board voted that all three domestic professional divisions would switch to the new system, replacing the current March-November season.
“The transition will be gradual as next year’s championship will be played over three stages,” said RFU chief Sergei Fursenko. “It will start in the spring of 2011, continue in the fall and finish in the spring of 2012. From then on it will revert to two parts – the fall-spring season.”
Lawrence expecting to prolong stay at Portsmouth
HAVING ARRIVED from Stoke City on what had to be classed as an emergency loan deal because of last-minute hitches with the paperwork, Liam Lawrence insists when the technicalities are overcome he will be signing up for a prolonged stay in Portsmouth, writes Emmet Malone.
Because of the limitations that go with loan moves, Lawrence’s spell at Fratton Park will for the moment technically be divided into three separate spells so as to get him through to the January window. Even then he may end up missing games in December but the Republic of Ireland international seems set on staying well beyond that and expects things to be finalised very quickly. “I’ve seen the contracts and the paperwork, which I’ve been trying to get though all week,” he says. “The permanent deal is near enough nailed on so I will be a Portsmouth player for the next four years. I want to stay and I want to help the club turn the corner.”
Wenger haunted by failures
ARSENE WENGER has admitted he has suffered “sleepless nights” over Arsenal’s failure to win the Champions League.
“Certainly, you always do a little bit,” he said. “It goes through your head if you have something important to do tomorrow. It goes through your head the day before a game and the day after a game.”
The manager’s mood on the eve of his latest attempt to capture the trophy was hardly enhanced by Abou Diaby becoming the latest player to be ruled out.
The French midfielder is set to miss at least the next two games because of a leg injury, leaving Arsenal without five key players.
Diaby joins Aaron Ramsey (broken leg), Theo Walcott (ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Robin van Persie (ankle) as high-profile names on the sidelines, but Samir Nasri should be fit to start as the Gunners face face Braga at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow in their opening Champions League group game.
Wales turn to Flynn as interim boss
BRIAN FLYNN admits he may call upon several players, including Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, to come out of retirement for Wales after he was appointed interim manager yesterday.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) confirmed Flynn had been appointed as John Toshack’s successor for the country’s next two qualifiers – against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.
The 54-year-old former Wrexham boss, who has impressed since taking charge of Wales’ youth sides in 2004, has made it clear he wants the job on a permanent basis despite the likes of Chris Coleman, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Martin O’Neill also being linked with the position.
Giggs had also been touted as a possible replacement for Toshack before he was ruled out by United manager Alex Ferguson.
Simon Davies, Carl Fletcher, Jason Koumas and Robbie Savage also decided to call a halt to their Wales careers during the Toshack’s tenure as manager.
