Soccer Shorts:Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has been shortlisted for the Scottish Professional Footballers Association's young player of the year award.
The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland international was yesterday named along with three other Scottish Premier League players for the award.
His Celtic team-mates Artur Boruc, Shunsuke Nakamura, and Lee Naylor were nominated for the senior category with Aberdeen's Russell Anderson being the shortlisted player not playing for the runaway leaders of the league.
The winners will be announced on April 22nd.
Shepherd in denial
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has dismissed newspaper reports suggesting he has placed former England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson at the top of a list of potential successors to Glenn Roeder. He said: "Is it April Fools' day today? Any talk of Sven-Goran Eriksson - or anyone else for that matter - coming as manager to St James' Park is sheer and utter garbage."
Likely move for Sidwell
Reading manager Steve Coppell has admitted he expects highly-rated midfielder Steve Sidwell to leave the Madejski Stadium this summer.
The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and, while Coppell would love to retain the services of one of the club's driving forces, he believes the lure of playing for one of the English Premiership's bigger sides could tempt the former Arsenal trainee away.
Coppell said: "I anticipate that he won't be here next year so we will have to chop and change in the midfield department.
"This is an exciting time for him and I'm sure a lot of clubs would love to sign him.
"When the big boys come in, it's hard for players to resist. We understand that but we don't necessarily like this law of the jungle."
Arsenal bid intensifies
It was confirmed yesterday the KSE group, led by American billionaire Stan Kroenke, have a total stake in Arsenal of just over 11 per cent, following an announcement on the Alternative Plus Market Exchange, where the club's shares are listed.
The move will intensify speculation that the business tycoon is planning a full takeover.
The announcement revealed JP Morgan Chase bank purchased 791 shares in Kroenke's name last month.
