Other soccer news in brief

Gerrard the football writers' choice

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard was named England’s Footballer of the Year yesterday by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA).

The 28-year-old England midfielder won the FWA poll ahead of Manchester United pair Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

Giggs was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year last month.

The FWA award, the oldest of its type in Europe, has been running since 1948 and Gerrard is the first Liverpool player to win it since John Barnes in 1990, the last time the Anfield club won the top-flight title.

Gerrard has scored 23 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season, the best tally of his career to date.

Cork in negotiations with Revenue Commissioners

CORK City said last night that it is in negotiations with the Revenue Commissioners in order to avoid a High Court petition to have it wound up coming before the courts on Monday week.

In a statement issued last night, the club said: “The club’s legal and financial advisers intend to meet with the Revenue as a matter of urgency in order to come to an agreement with regard to our current tax liabilities.”

The problem, which the club says relates to the period prior to examinership last year, apparently relates to a liability which came to light after a settlement with the tax authorities had been agreed as part of the examinership process.

The club added: “The current economic conditions have meant that the goals set by the club off the field are taking longer to achieve than was originally foreseen.

“While income levels have proved to be less than were originally projected, the club is working hard to address this shortfall.”

Ireland to be offered new deal

MANCHESTER City look set to offer Stephen Ireland a new contract after the midfielder revealed it was his wish to stay at the club for the remainder of his career.

The 22-year-old has had his best season to date since making his City debut in September 2005 after progressing through the club’s youth system.

With 13 goals already this campaign and a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, Ireland has seen his stock rise at Eastlands, so much so that City boss Mark Hughes is prepared to significantly increase the midfielder’s wages and sit down and thrash out a new deal.

Any offer should be accepted by Ireland after he admitted he could see himself staying at the club for another 10 years.

“I want to play here until I am 33 or 34-years-old,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“Hopefully I will get a contract sorted out soon, continue to play for the club I love as long as possible.”

Van Gaal to manage Bayern

BAYERN Munich and AZ Alkmaar have reached an agreement for coach Louis van Gaal to join the German club at the end of the season.

Van Gaal, who previously worked with Ajax, Barcelona and the Dutch national team, won the Dutch league this season with Alkmaar, their first title since 1981, and is under contract until 2010. Bayern sacked coach Jurgen Klinsmann in April and appointed Jupp Heynckes as a short-term replacement.

Alonso's agent dismisses speculation

LIVERPOOL midfielder Xabi Alonso’s agent has dismissed reports suggesting the Spain international is set for a summer exit.

The 27-year-old was rumoured to be on his way out before the start of this season with manager Rafael Benitez pursuing Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry and Juventus interested in taking Alonso to Italy but neither deal materialised.

He shrugged off that uncertainty over his future and has been one of Liverpool’s players of the season but that has not prevented further speculation about what may happen to him at the end of the campaign, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid already linked with the player.

“I know nothing about these reports [of interest from City],” Ignacio Ibanez told skysports.com. “As Xabi has always said he is happy at Liverpool and focused on them.”

Alonso is expected to be fit to face West Brom at the weekend after sitting out last Saturday’s victory at West Ham because of an ankle injury sustained in the challenge which saw Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton sent off in the defeat the previous week.

Coppell resigns from Reading post

STEVE Coppell has resigned as manager of Reading after their failure to secure an immediate return to the Premier League, the club confirmed.

Reading were beaten 2-0 by Burnley on Tuesday to lose their English League Championship promotion play-off semi-final 3-0 on aggregate after the club had finished fourth in the table.

“I feel it’s the best thing for the club and myself for me to leave,” Coppell told the club’s website (www.readingfc.co.uk).

Former Manchester United winger Coppell took over at Reading in 2003 and took them into the top flight of English football for the first time in 2006.