SOCCER SHORTS

Other soccer news in brief

Hiddink may extend stay at Chelsea

GUUS HIDDINK could return to Chelsea in November if Russia fail to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. The Dutch coach has won six of his seven games since taking charge of the Chelsea squad last month.

Several members of the Chelsea squad have urged the Dutchman to extend his stay but so far the 62-year-old has remained steadfast in his desire to resume his full-time duties with Russia at the end of the English season.

However, Hiddink admits there is a clause in his agreement with Russia that he could leave if he fails to lead the nation to the 2010 finals in South Africa.

“I will focus on Russia after this project but people say, ‘Think about it, stay’,” said Hiddink. “I enjoy it with the Russians but I do have a clause that says we can stop in November if Russia don’t qualify.

“Then, the Russian FA can choose another direction and I would also be free to go.”

Quinn gives Sbragia deadline

RICKY SBRAGIA has been warned by Sunderland’s chairman, Niall Quinn, that he has nine games to keep his job, less than three months after he was given the manager’s post on a permanent basis.

Sunderland have won only three of their last 13 games and, with the club just three points clear of the relegation zone, Sbragia’s future will hinge on the remainder of the season.

Benitez will not control transfers

RAFAEL BENITEZ has failed in his battle to win complete financial control of transfers at Liverpool, despite having signed a new five-year contract on Tuesday - confirmed by the club’s co-owner Tom Hicks to be worth “€26.5m” – after months of wrangling over the terms. The most serious stand-off between Hicks, his fellow co-owner George Gillett and Benitez occurred in January when the Spaniard insisted that all transfers should ultimately be signed off by himself.

The impending departure of Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, had been viewed as a significant victory for Benitez, who was thought to have felt frustration at his influence over transfers.

Yet while Parry’s resignation may well have been key in the decision to sign for another five years, Hicks was keen to clarify publicly that it is still the board which will ratify all deals involving players. - Guardian Service

Barton ready for Newcastle return

NEWCASTLE MIDFIELDER Joey Barton could return for the final five games of the season.

The 26-year-old has not figured since fracturing a metatarsal in the 2-1 defeat at former club Manchester City on January 28th.

However, caretaker boss Chris Hughton is hoping to have him back at the end of next month.

He told nufcTV: “It’s very much the case that we are looking at having Joey back for the last four or five matches. It’s been very frustrating for him and for us as well because he’s a quality player.

Newcastle’s final five games are Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham at home and trips to Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Hamstring injury rules Finnan out for two games

ESPANYOL DEFENDER Steve Finnan has been forced to withdraw from the squad for Ireland’s game forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Italy after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring problem, writes Emmet Malone.

The injury is just the latest in a succession of setbacks suffered by the 32 year-old former Liverpool defender since his move to Spain at the start of the season.

It is a blow too for Giovanni Trapattoni who must now choose whether to stick with Stephen Kelly at right back for the qualifying games or bring back Paul McShane, who also missed the Georgia match through injury. Finnan’s withdrawal leaves Trapattoni with 25 players to choose from as he prepares to finalise his panel of 23 for tomorrow week’s Bulgaria game.

Bulgaria manager Stoilov insists World Cup group remains open

DESPITE THE setbacks suffered by his side during the early rounds in the campaign, recently installed Bulgaria manager Stanimir Stoilov insists that Ireland’s World Cup group remains open and that any of its teams can still qualify for the finals.

“Every team in the group can qualify for the World Cup, not just Italy,” he said in an interview for Eircom’s Soccer Republic website, “so I think that both Bulgaria and Ireland have their chances. As long as we play with a focus on the game in a well-organised manner, we could be a strong opponent for any team.”

Stoilov acknowledged that Manchester United’s Dimitar Berbatov would be a key figure for the visitors at Croke Park next weekend and suggested the striker would receive more support than he had in the likes of the home draw with Italy.

“Berbatov is a world class player and it is only normal for me to bet on him in this game,” said the coach. Asked about Giovanni Trapattoni, Stoilov was reverential, saying the Italian’s qualities are such that he could not even comment on them while he described Irish supporters as “impressive” but insisted that the atmosphere inside Croke Park would not be a problem for his players.