Soccer Shorts

A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief

Mowbray confirmed as Celtic boss

NEIL LENNON has been assured he has an immediate future at Celtic after the club last night confirmed Tony Mowbray as their new manager on a 12-month rolling contract worth around €1.2 million a year.

Three weeks after Gordon Strachan’s resignation and following a tense negotiation process with West Bromwich Albion, the Scottish side prised Mowbray from The Hawthorns for €2.4 million compensation.

A further amount, close to €600,000, means Mowbray will take his assistants Mark Venus and Peter Grant to Glasgow. The arrival of Grant, like Mowbray and Lennon a former Celtic player, had prompted reports that Lennon’s time could be up at Parkhead.

Manchester United to stop signing older players

MANCHESTER UNITED have made a decision not to sign any players aged 26 or above for large transfer fees because of new financial stipulations that have been put in place at Old Trafford to shape the club’s recruitment policy.

Dimitar Berbatov, who was 27 when he signed from Tottenham Hotspur last September, has been described as the “last of his kind” in a move that has immediate implications for their attempts to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The restrictions mean Alex Ferguson’s admiration for Franck Ribery will not result in a concerted attempt to sign the France international. Instead, the policy will be that the club will have a strict age-before-ability approach in which they will sign players in big-money deals only if they will retain a significant market value some years after signing a five- or six-year deal.

Karim Benzema, the Lyon striker, would fit into their strategy, being 21, but Ribery is considered too old even though he turned 26 only two months ago. United’s believe Ribery would cost close to €70million and have no significant resale value.

The club insists it makes sound business sense not to bring in a player for €35million or more who cannot be sold for another high valuation some years later. profit.

United are now targeting Antonio Valencia, Wigan Athletic’s Ecuador international, to take over from Ronaldo on the right side of their attack but face competition for the 23-year-old from Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Kelly moves to Fulham

FULHAM HAVE signed Republic of Ireland international Stephen Kelly (above) from Birmingham on a three-year contract. The 25-year-old right-back made 37 appearances for Tottenham and had brief loan spells at Southend, QPR and Watford before joining Birmingham in June 2006.

Kelly, who also had a spell on loan at Stoke last season, said: “I’m happy that my transfer to Fulham has been finalised today and look forward to meeting with the rest of the team.”

Frustrated Eboue hints at departure

ARSENAL defender Emmanuel Eboue could be on his way out of the Emirates after revealing he is unhappy at the Premier League club.

The Ivory Coast international has grown frustrated by his failure to hold down a regular starting spot.

And, despite only having signed a new deal last summer, the 26-year-old admits he could be set to leave England.

“It would be hard,” Eboue told France Football. “But I think it would be harder to experience another season like this one, too far off the pitch.”

However full-back Bacary Sagna has distanced himself from reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid – and declared he is “100 per cent committed” to the Gunners.

The 26-year-old France international said: “I have seen the quotes attributed to me in the French media today and I just want to put the record straight . . .. I am 100 per cent committed to Arsenal. This is a great club and I am proud to wear the shirt.”

Shearer still in the Newcastle frame

NEWCASTLE UNITED’S managing director, Derek Llambias, has claimed Alan Shearer could be installed as permanent manager before any takeover of the club is completed.

Although a takeover at St James’ Park could still take several weeks to complete, Shearer’s appointment could still be ratified if he is the choice of the groups who will begin due diligence today, says Llambias.

Anyone interested in buying the club will be given access to an online “data room” where the club’s books can be inspected. Those groups will also then be asked if they want Shearer as manager.

Llambias said: “There could be some movement regarding Alan Shearer before the end of this week or early next week.

“We will not be making any decision on Alan as manager, that is not up to us, that is down to the groups buying the club.”

Owen not on Wigan wish-list

MICHAEL OWEN’S dramatic fall from favour was cast into stark perspective yesterday when Dave Whelan said he would not sign the Newcastle United forward for Wigan Athletic due to doubts over whether he has the “urge, bottle and drive” to revive his Premier League career.

The Wigan owner and chairman, who unveiled Roberto Martinez with a pledge to retain his new manager even if the Latics are relegated next season, made a €18 million offer to buy the ex-England international from Real Madrid in 2005.

Four years on, however, and despite Owen being available on a free after an injury-plagued spell at relegated Newcastle United, Whelan has no intention of rekindling his interest and has questioned the 29-year-old’s appetite for football at the highest level.

“Would we be interested in him? No,” said Whelan. “One, his wages are too expensive. Two, has he got the urge, bottle and drive to do what the Premier League demands? I hope he has because he has been a great player.”