Bruce Rioch has turned down an approach to become Northern Ireland's new manager. Irish Football Association president, Jim Boyce, who along with general secretary David Bowen has been charged with finding Bryan Hamilton's successor, revealed that he had sounded out the former Arsenal boss.

Boyce claimed that Rioch, who lost his job as QPR assistant manager earlier this month, was not interested because he was lining up another job.

"I spoke to Bruce Rioch and he was extremely honoured to be asked about the job," said Boyce.

"Unfortunately he has something else lined up and news of that will break over the next few weeks so he could not speak to us."

Leicester have already said that they will block any move for manager Martin O'Neill.

Boyce claims that the IFA are in no hurry to find a new manager.

Pat Dolan yesterday signed Dubliner Paul Keegan on a three-month contract from the New England Revolution.

Keegan, a 24-year-old striker who has started in the American club's first team around 30 times over the past two years suffered a number of injuries towards the end of the season which has just ended and the club's management hope to get him some first team football before training starts again around February.

"His manager wanted him to go to Argentina but Paul's a Saints fan, and he wanted to come here and they've agreed to let him," Dolan said.

The signing comes after the departure, on loan to Kilkenny until the end of the season, of young players Alan O'Connor and Eric Smith. Shelbourne, meanwhile, have completed the signing of Liam Kelly from Home Farm.

West Brom defender Shane Nicholson was yesterday cleared of wilful misconduct after failing a random drugs test. An English Football Association disciplinary commission accepted Nicholson's explanation after a witness gave evidence that the player's drink had been spiked at a party 36 hours previously.

The former Lincoln and Derby man had tested positive for amphetamines.