SoccerShorts

Shearer to play on: Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer has agreed to play on for his home-town club for another season.

The 34-year-old, who has insisted all along that he would go ahead with his decision to retire at the end of the current campaign, has negotiated a contract extension which will give him even longer to get the nine goals he needs to equal Jackie Milburn's club record of 200.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd would not comment on the matter last night, but it is understood the details were completed early this evening and an official announcement will be made later today.

Everton, Boro fined: The English Football Association's disciplinary machine creaked belatedly into life last night to impose fines of £8,000 and severely reprimand both Everton and Middlesbrough for a fracas involving their players over 10 weeks ago, writes Dominic Fifield

Both clubs had admitted the charge of failing to control their players following the 21-man brawl during the 1-1 draw at the Riverside on January 16th, but had to wait until a disciplinary hearing held yesterday at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium to learn the extent of their punishment.

The incident was sparked when Everton's late substitute Duncan Ferguson attempted to capitalise on a handling error by the home goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The Scot lunged in but failed to make contact with the ball, which was reclaimed by the goalkeeper. Boro defenders reacted to his challenge with players from both sides joining in the subsequent free-for-all.

Neither side expected to appeal yesterday's decision.

Tottenham's defender Thimothee Atouba, meanwhile, has denied a charge of violent conduct an incident involving Manchester City's Joey Barton during the Premiership game at White Hart Lane on March 19th. Television footage appeared to show the Cameroonian flinging his elbow at Barton off the ball, leaving City's midfielder requiring stitches to a cut above his right eye.

Atouba is understood to have claimed that he was racially abused by his opponent earlier in the game, which Tottenham won 2-1. The 23-year-old is likely to elaborate on any provocation at his disciplinary hearing, which will take place today. If found guilty, the defender faces a three-match ban.

Guardian Service: Pennant move flagged Birmingham chairman David Gold will sit down with Jermaine Pennant to discuss a permanent move to St Andrews after backing the winger to get his career back on track following his release from prison yesterday.

Manager Steve Bruce will welcome the on-loan Arsenal player back and has vowed to support the wayward 22-year-old.

The club have agreed a £3 million deal with Arsenal for Pennant, whose contract expires this summer, and only need to negotiate a contract with the player.

Pennant was released on parole after serving a third of his three months sentence for drink-driving offences. He will wear an electronic tag as part of his parole conditions, though he is available to play and train straight away.

Toshack relenting: Wales manager John Toshack has admitted any of the Wales players who retired since he took over from Mark Hughes could return to the international set-up.

But while the way is open for the likes of Bolton's Gary Speed to come straight back into the team, the return of Blackburn's Robbie Savage is less likely.

Speed and Savage are the two players most missed by Wales in recent World Cup qualifying defeats by Austria.

But the way Savage, capped 39 times by Wales, publicly fell out with Toshack means a return to international action would only come after much back-tracking.

Former Leicester and Birmingham midfielder Savage launched an attack on Toshack, branding the ex-Real Madrid coach "a joke" and the Wales set-up "a shambles".

Toshack was yesterday asked whether he would consider bringing any player who had retired since he took charge in November back into the Wales set-up.

"We would have to analyse an awful lot of things - particularly in the one you're talking about (Savage)," he said.

"We would have to really think about the kind of things that were said, the respect that was lacking for certain people we have on board at the moment.

"Then we would consider it and do what we have to do."

Top Celts for Dublin: Several of the Celtic team that made British footballing history by beating Inter Milan to win the European Cup in 1967 will visit Dublin in early June for a dinner aimed at raising funds for research into motor neurone disease,

Jimmy Johnstone, the club's legendary winger and a member of that first British club side to claim Europe's premier club trophy, has been suffering from the disease for four years.

Johnstone was a key member of the Lisbon Lions and, said Bertie Auld, another team member who was in Dublin yesterday to promote the event, and remains a focal point for a group who, under manager Jock Stein, made up what was probably the best club side ever to come out of Scotland.

Johnstone himself is too unwell to travel but Auld will be joined on the night by 1967 captain Billy McNeill, Tommy Gemmell and Joe McBride (a member of the squad although he didn't play on the night) for an event that is being organised by local supporters' groups.

The benefit dinner for Johnstone is on Sunday, June 5th at the Regency Airport Hotel in Dublin. Tickets, priced €65, and further information are available from Brian Gaff at (086) 238 7423.

Today'sFixtures: (7.45 unless stated)

EIRCOM LEAGUE: Premier Division - Bohemians v Derry City, Bray v UCD, Drogheda Utd v St Patrick's, Shelbourne v Waterford (8.00). First Division - Athlone Town v Limerick, Dublin City v Kildare County.

ENGLISH LEAGUE: Division One - Doncaster v Colchester. Division Two - Southend v Bristol Rovers.