Soccer Shorts

A round-up of other soccer stories in brief...

Ireland frustrated over City pay offer

STEPHEN IRELAND has compounded a disappointing season for Manchester City by expressing his frustration about the length of time it is taking for the club to put together his new contract.

Ireland, the overwhelming choice to be named as City's player of the year tomorrow, has been offered a new five-year deal with a sliding pay scale, starting with a weekly salary of £60,000 (€68,000), rising to £80,000 (€90,000) in two years.

Manager Mark Hughes, whose own position was ratified by the club's owners in Abu Dhabi yesterday, said last week Ireland was "very close" to signing. That prompted a terse response from Ireland last night, disputing the club's version of events and floating the possibility he would not commit himself to City unless the financial terms were significantly improved.

"Talks have barely started and I don't know what's going to happen or if I'm going to sign," he said.

Ireland earns €26,000 (€29,000) a week and ultimately stands to treble his salary but he is is aware that several other players, such as Wayne Bridge on £93,000 (€105,000), will still be earning more. Guardian Service

Van Basten has talks with Milan

FORMER NETHERLANDS coach Marco van Basten has discussed the possibility of taking over at AC Milan, the club's assistant manager Filippo Galli said yesterday.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said his future will be decided next weekend amid speculation he will leave to join Chelsea.

The former striker Van Basten, one of Milan's most famous former players, quit as Ajax manager earlier this month saying he was "not good enough" for the job.

He was in Italy for a golf tournament on Sunday and had dinner with friends, including Galli.

Meanwhile, Steve McClaren has played down speculation linking him with Ajax and insisted he will remain at FC Twente next season.

The former England boss has made a big impression in his first season in The Netherlands, guiding Twente to second in the Eredivisie and the final of the cup, where they lost to Heerenveen on penalties on Sunday.

UCD thwart Galway as Sligo put Sporting Fingal to the sword

Galway Utd 0 UCD 2

UCD remained cool and clinical when dismissing Galway United from the EA Sports League Cup at Terryland Park last night.

With Republic of Ireland under-21 international Jay O'Shea providing the subtle touches Galway had controlled vast chunks of the first half.

Still for all Galway's probing Vinny Faherty, Dave Cooke, and Michael McGrath were unable to summon sufficiently crisp finishes when opportunities were created, and the teams departed deadlocked at the break.

Ten minutes after the restart Galway's Garry Breen was sent of for a foul on Chris Mulhall. UCD then scored when Mulhall stroked home a Keith Ward cross in the 64th minute as Galway substitute Mark O'Toole's error was punished.

And with five remaining Peter McMahon's innocuous shot deflected off Galway defender Shane Guthrie leaving Barry Ryan stranded as the students prevailed.

GALWAY UNITED: Ryan; Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, Davoren (Edwards, 78); Cooke (O'Toole, 57), McBrien, Russell (O'Brien, 71), McGrath; O'Shea; Faherty.

UCD:Brennan; Shortall, Leahy, E McMillan, Nangle; Ward (Timmons, 83), Dineen (D McMillan, 46), McMahon, Finn, Mulhall; Purcell (Kelly, 53).

Referee: P Sutton (Clare).

Sporting Fingal 0 Sligo Rovers 1

Sligo Rovers reached the semi-final of the League Cup thanks to an excellent display from goalkeeper Richard Brush at the Morton Stadium. The Birmingham native sharply saved Ross Gaynor's 15th-minute penalty.

Rafael Cretaro's diving header just before the break was enough for Paul Cook's men, the striker stooping to head home Stephen Parkhouse's cross.

SPORTING FINGAL: Quigley; James (McConnell Cook 88), Whelan, Gannon, Frost; Williams, McFaul; Byrne (Bayly 88), Kirby, McArdle (Fitzgerald 83); Gaynor.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Keane, Peers, Feeney, Ventre; Cash (Morrison 81), Boco, Ryan, Holmes; Parkhouse, Cretaro (O'Grady 45).

Referee:N Doyle (Dublin).

Ranieri fired as Juventus drift out to fourth place

CLAUDIO RANIERI has been sacked as Juventus coach after a poor run of results and youth team boss Ciro Ferrara has taken over temporarily.

The Turin side are a point above fourth-placed Fiorentina with two matches left and are in danger of slipping out of an automatic Champions League berth after a run of seven Serie A games without a win.

Fourth place guarantees only a spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Club chief executive Jean Claude Blanc said Ferrara's appointment was initially for the last two games of the season.

"The next two games are our future," said Blanc. "It is not our style (to sack someone) but we can not miss out on Europe. We wanted to shock the players so they'd take the right path with the right man at the right moment."

Ferrara, a former Juventus defender, is assistant to Italy coach and ex-Juve boss Marcello Lippi but has never managed a club before.

Lafferty dive 'foolish', says McCoist

RANGERS ASSISTANT manager Ally McCoist has described Kyle Lafferty as 'foolish' after the striker was forced to apologise for the theatrical reaction that saw Aberdeen defender Charlie Mulgrew sent off during Rangers' 2-1 win on Saturday.

Lafferty (21) fell down dramatically after going head to head with the former Celtic full back who was then sent packing by referee Stuart Dougal.

The Northern Ireland international expressed "deep regret" over his behaviour, which was criticised by manager Walter Smith, who also fined the player.

"We spoke to Kyle at great length," said McCoist. "It is obviously something he deeply regrets - it was a foolish thing to do."

Injury rules Foster out

MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Ben Foster (above) has been sidelined for at least nine weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his thumb.

It means he will not be involved in the Champions League final against Barcelona on May 27th or the last league game at Hull on Sunday.

Foster (26) has also been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers with Kazakhstan (away) and Andorra (home) on June 6th and 10th.