Soccer Shorts

A round-up of other soccer news in brief

Bolton close in on Coyle to succeed Megson

BOLTON ARE hoping to prise Owen Coyle from Burnley in the next 24 hours.

Burnley have confirmed that Coyle has already held talks with Bolton over the vacant manager’s position following the departure of Gary Megson last week.

Coyle is keen to return to the club where he enjoyed two-and-a-half seasons as a player in the 1990s.

But apparently Bolton will have to come up with more than €3 million in compensation.

It is understood that clause was inserted into the his contract when he signed a 12-month extension to his existing three-year deal in the summer.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside short-listed Coyle for the manager’s job before he appointed Megson in October 2007 and subsequently recommended him to Burnley, where the Scot took over the following month.

Having steered Burnley to promotion to the top flight for the first time in 33 years Coyle has had to work on a shoestring budget.

Cole found guilty of speeding

CHELSEA AND England defender Ashley Cole was found guilty of speeding yesterday after police recorded him driving at more than twice the speed limit last November.

Cole (29) faces a driving ban after police recorded him driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo sportscar at 104 mph (167 kph) in a 50 mph zone near London on November 17th.

The player told police officers when he was stopped that he thought he was travelling at 80 mph and was being pursued by paparazzi photographers.

“Can’t you do anything about those idiots who keep chasing me?” he told the officers, Kingston Magistrates Court heard.

Cole was not present at the hearing, where his lawyers argued unsuccessfully that the police speed gun might have been faulty.

Magistrates chairwoman Judith Jewell said Cole may be banned when he is sentenced on January 29th.

Another setback for Ribery

BAYERN MUNICH and France star Franck Ribery has suffered another injury setback.

His knee and toe caused the most frequent problems and it is the latter which has forced him to miss the first session of Bayern’s winter training camp in Dubai yesterday.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said: “It is practically incredible and very bitter for the coach and the team.

“But we cannot change it. We hope that the medical department works hard and he returns as quickly as possible.”

Ribery had joined the rest of his team-mates for a jog around Munich yesterday before the flight to the United Arab Emirates, but upon arrival in Dubai both of his big toes were swollen.

Holes were drilled into the toenails to release an accumulation of blood and relieve the pain in a bid to get the 26-year-old back on his feet as soon as possible.

Kitson would 'welcome' Celtic move

DAVE KITSON has revealed he would welcome the chance to move to Celtic, who are understood to be interested in signing the 29-year-old on loan.

Kitson has recently returned to Stoke following a loan spell at Middlesbrough but he would appear to have little future at the Britannia Stadium. “Moving to Celtic would be a great opportunity,” he said.

** ROY Hodgson is confident Fulham can go from strength to strength now that Andy Johnson has returned from injury to re-form his strike partnership with Bobby Zamora.

Hodgson expects to receive offers for the in-form Zamora this month but is determined to keep hold of him. He said the striker was “attracting interest” but “we want to keep him here.”

Rosicky signs new contract

ARSENAL midfielder Tomas Rosicky (29) has signed a new contract at the Emirates Stadium, the club have announced. The Gunners have not disclosed the length of the deal but it continues the club’s success in securing the future services of their key players.

The Czech international, who joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2006, is the 15th player to sign a new contract for manager Arsene Wenger since last May.

TV money to pay Portsmouth bill

THE PREMIER League are set to pay Portsmouth’s €7.8 million share of the latest television monies directly to other top-flight sides to settle the struggling club’s outstanding transfer debts.

The cash is due to be paid as part of the latest instalment of TV money but with Chelsea, Tottenham and Watford all owed money by Portsmouth it is understood the league will pay the money directly to the clubs. Such action is contained within league rules to protect clubs owed money from transfers but it will not help the cash-flow crisis at the club.

However, Pompey’s non-playing staff were paid yesterday and the players are expected to be paid today after the owners secured a short-term bank loan. A spokesman said: “The staff have been paid today but there are two separate payrolls and we are still expecting the players to be paid tomorrow.”

The crisis does not look like easing in the longer term and fans are planning further protests against absentee owner Ali Al Faraj.