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

Blackburn agree fee for McCarthy

BLACKBURN have agreed a fee with West Ham for South Africa international striker Benni McCarthy. The clubs have reached agreement over the transfer fee but are still negotiating over a couple of other issues. Blackburn have also announced that midfielder David Dunn has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract.

The deal ties the 30-year-old to Rovers until the summer of 2012.

Dunn has been one of Blackburn’s best performers this season and is their highest scorer with six goals, five of which have been in the Premier League . . . Birmingham have completed the €3.4 million signing of midfielder Craig Gardner from local rivals Aston Villa.

Mowbray allows Celtic duo to leave 

TONY MOWBRAY is willing to allow Stephen McManus and Danny Fox leave Celtic – but insists his decision has nothing to do with their ability. Middlesbrough are reportedly interested in taking the club captain on loan while Burnley boss Brian Laws is looking to buy former Coventry left-back Fox.

The former Hibs and West Brom boss explained that neither move has anything to do with the players’ respective abilities, but would allow him to further refurbish his squad – the latest addition to which is striker Morten Rasmussen, who arrived on a three-and-a-half year deal from Brondby for an undisclosed fee.

“I am not resigned to losing Stephen,” he said. “I think it is an opportunity for him. I will put on record what a fantastic man he is and what a fantastic player he has been for this club and if this deal doesn’t happen he will be back on the training ground and striving to get himself in the team.”

Trapattoni 'fully focused on the Ireland job'

A SPOKESMAN for Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni last night emphatically denied Italian media speculation that the Ireland manager was in line to take over at Serie A club, Juventus, in the role of caretaker manager, Paddy Agnew reports from Rome.

Long time aide Pasquale Piccolo told The Irish Times that Trapattoni remains fully focused on the Ireland job.

Asked if there was anything to the reports, FAI chief executive John Delaney said yesterday: “ I have spoken to Giovanni today and he assured me that there is nothing in it.

“He is going to Warsaw for the European Championship draw on February 7th and he is committed for the whole of that campaign.”

Novo fined  for gesture

RANGERS striker Nacho Novo was today fined €573 and severely censured by a Scottish FA disciplinary committee for his one-fingered gesture during November’s league game at Aberdeen.

The incident took place immediately after the Ibrox club’s 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie on November 28th.

RTÉ to show match against Brazil

RTÉ have announced that they have secured the rights to broadcast the friendly international between Brazil and the Republic of Ireland at the Emirates stadium in London on March 2nd live.

Coverage of the game will start at 7.30pm on RTÉ2, with the match kicking off at 8.05 pm.

BOLTON have signed Manchester City winger Vladimir Weiss on loan for the rest of the season and completed a deal for midfielder Stuart Holden. Slovakian Weiss (20) arrived on Monday, while American Holden recently left Major League club Houston Dynamo and has been on trial at Bolton.

Crystal Palace in administration

CHAMPIONSHIP club Crystal Palace have gone into administration. Chairman Simon Jordan has been attempting to attract new investment into the club, who have been late in paying their players twice this season.

But Brendon Guilfoyle, Chris White and John Russell of the P A Partnership were appointed administrators yesterday.

Guilfoyle said: “This club has been in the spotlight for some months with creditors pressing for payments and players anxious about their wages. “Our role now is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the employees, players and fans for the future. We are hoping our appointment will be short-lived as we understand there are many interested buyers.” Palace have reported debts of €34 million and the move into administration means they will be deducted 10 points by the Football League.