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Today's other stories in brief

Ashley to make call on Newcastle

NEWCASTLE United will make an announcement on Monday over ongoing efforts to sell the English Championship club.

Owner Mike Ashley was expected to make a decision by the end of this week over whether or not to accept one of the bids currently on the table, or to continue running the Magpies himself for another season.

However, talks with local businessman Barry Moat, as well as two other consortia, are continuing as Ashley looks to strike a €115 million deal for the club he bought for €155 million a little more than two years ago.

The longer things go without a conclusion being reached, the more likely it appears that the current regime will stay in place with the transfer deadline fast approaching and the Newcastle squad threadbare in the wake of 10 departures and just one arrival at the club.

However, although time is running down, the possibility of a new owner taking over remains alive, for now at least.

Birmingham takeover gathers pace

GRANDTOP International Holdings have confirmed they are to make an offer for Birmingham as Carson Yeung’s proposed €94 million takeover gathers pace.

The Premier League club have revealed an agreement has been reached for the Hong Kong businessman’s investment company to pay a €3.5million deposit as proof of his intent to buy the club. And a statement from Grandtop – which already holds a 29.9 per cent stake – yesterday revealed Yeung’s offer has support from shareholders owning 79.91 per cent of the company.

The statement said: “The Grandtop Board is pleased to announce an all cash offer to be made by Grandtop to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Birmingham City, other than those shares already owned by Grandtop.

“The offer will be made on the basis of 100 pence for each Birmingham City Share to which the offer relates.”

Zola not about to quit West Ham

GIANFRANCO Zola insists he has no intention of quitting West Ham following speculation regarding his future. The Italian was reported to be weighing up his options after being informed that he would be forced to part with key players.

“There has a lot of talk about that (quitting). It’s not true,” he said. “I know the club is working and trying to make the team better but we are short.

I havent threatened the club that I would leave. It is not true.”

Hibernian snap up Stokes

HIBERNIAN manager John Hughes has pulled off a transfer coup by securing a deal to sign Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes for the Scottish Premier League club.

Republic of Ireland international Stokes has agreed a three-year contract at Easter Road after Sunderland accepted an undisclosed fee for the 21-year-old.

Stokes, who is awaiting international clearance to complete the switch, made a huge impact during a loan spell under Hughes at Falkirk in 2006/’07, scoring 14 goals in 16 league starts.

Meanwhile, Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen has confirmed contract talks are underway, although he is currently focusing on his football.

The Norway international, who has been at Ewood Park since 2004, is now into the final year of his Rovers contract.

Mowbray expects McGeady to stick it out at Parkhead

CELTIC manager Tony Mowbray does not expect Aiden McGeady to leave Parkhead. The Republic of Ireland winger has been linked with a move to Tottenham after Harry Redknapp watched him in top form for Celtic against Arsenal in their Champions League play-off clash on Tuesday night.

Mowbray is hoping to add to his squad before the transfer window closes but shrugged off a suggestion, and indeed almost ignored the possibility, that he could be left having to replace McGeady.

“I don’t think there is any suggestions that Aiden McGeady would go anywhere,” Mowbray said. “I don’t think there is any speculation either.

“You can throw any one of a dozen names in there instead of Aiden, but I think it’s important that we keep our best players.

“The last week of the transfer window is when things start to happen at football clubs.

“I would suggest there is a potential for a bit of movement and we would hope that there would be.”