The former Newcastle United Academy manager and head coach, Brian Eastick, is to take over as assistant to Ireland's Under-21 manager, Don Givens, following the departure of Neil Banfield who had to resign when he was made reserve team manager at Arsenal, writes Emmet Malone.
Eastick, a Uefa A badge and Professional Licence holder, was formerly an assistant to the technical director at the FA National School, Lilleshall, and worked with Brian Hamilton when he was Northern Ireland manager.
"I welcome Brian's appointment," said Givens, "and I look forward to working with him as we build our squad at this level for the future."
Givens has named a 18-man squad for a training camp at Lilleshall next week in preparation for next month's European qualifier against Israel.
IRELAND SQUAD: Deeney (Notts County), Henderson (Aston Villa), Foley (Luton Town), Timlin (Fulham), McCarthy (Leicester City), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), McStay (Leeds Utd), McShane (Manchester Utd), Sheehan (Leicester City), Flood (Manchester City), Cregg (Arsenal), O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), Bell (Rushden & Diamonds), Thornton (Sunderland), Dawson (Leicester City), Birmingham (Manchester City), McAliskey (Huddersfield Town), Quigley (Millwall).
Johansson will back Liverpool
The calls for Liverpool to be allowed to defend the Champions League if they win the trophy in Istanbul have received massive support from Uefa's president. Lennart Johansson has repeated his views that a way could be found for Liverpool to be allowed back into next season's tournament as holders, despite not qualifying through the Premiership.
"Let's deal with it when we know the facts after the final of the Champions League," Johansson said. "And then see to it that we are crystal-clear that the champion must always be given the opportunity to defend the title."
One omen in Liverpool's favour is the fact that they will be allowed to wear their all-red kit in Istanbul. Milan will play in white. In every one of Liverpool's four previous winning European Cup finals, their opponents have worn white and the Anfield men their traditional all-red kit. The final they lost in Brussels 20 years ago, saw Juventus wearing black and white stripes.
In brief . . .
Head coach John Robertson has parted company with Hearts after refusing to take an alternative coaching role with the club. Bolton's Fernando Hierro has said he intends to retire at the end of the season. And, finally, Wearside turned out in force last night to acclaim the men who have brought English Premiership soccer back to Sunderland. Mick McCarthy and his players paraded the Championship trophy through the streets on an open-top bus.
