Advocaat in the hat: Dick Advocaat has emerged as a surprise applicant for the vacant manager's role at Blackburn Rovers, though the Premiership club are understood to still favour the Wales coach Mark Hughes to succeed Graeme Souness.
Rovers will be buoyed that the Football Association of Wales are understood to be willing to consider letting Hughes continue in his role as Wales coach alongside any full-time position at Ewood Park.
Advocaat, the former Rangers manager whose second spell in charge of Holland ended after Euro 2004, is one of more than 20 coaches to have already put their names forward and Rovers chief executive John Williams is hoping to appoint Souness's successor within the next fortnight.
"Many of those who have contacted (us) have serious credentials," said Williams. "We are trying not to let any personal points of view play a part at this stage."
Glenn Hoddle has applied and Gordon Strachan is another who might interest Rovers.
Wales play Northern Ireland tonight in World Cup qualifying Group Six, then face England and Poland next month, but then have a five-month break. If Hughes was appointed at Blackburn the break would allow him time to bed in at his former club.
If the arrangement were to then prove unsatisfactory Wales could turn to Ian Rush as their next manager.
"Speculation surrounds managers all the time," said Hughes. "I have feelings for all my clubs. I think I left each and every one of them on good terms. There are a lot of good people there (Blackburn) and I hope they make a good appointment."
Fenlon saluted
Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon has been named Philips Sports Manager of the Month for August.
Shelbourne's Champions League odyssey came to an end at Riazor Stadium on August 24th but two weeks earlier they had held Deportivo La Coruna, last season's semi-finalists, to a scoreless draw. In the previous round Shelbourne had come back from a 3-2 defeat away to Hajduk Split to win the return game 2-0 at Tolka Park on August 4th.
Heinze finally lands
Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze arrived at Manchester United yesterday, three months after joining the Premiership club.
Heinze, who joined United for £6.9 million from Paris St Germain in June, missed his new club's first six competitive matches of the season while on duty with Argentina at the Copa America and Olympic Games.
"My situation isn't easy. The (club's) directors are a bit annoyed but I always did what I felt was correct and they will be proud to have a gold medal winner in the squad," said the 26-year-old.
Shearer hails arrival
Alan Shearer has hailed Graeme Souness's arrival at St James' Park, insisting the former Blackburn boss will achieve far more than simply striking the fear of God into Newcastle.
Souness's reputation as a disciplinarian has been highlighted as the main reason chairman Freddy Shepherd made the decision to bring him to Newcastle.
Shearer believes Souness boasts plenty of other qualities which can help his side fulfil their potential.
Shearer said: "All I keep hearing is that Souness will bring discipline to this club and I don't doubt that that will be the case.
"But for me what he will bring is vast experience of managing a top-class club. He was a top-class player and he is a top-class manager."
In Brief . . .
Five Palestine players were refused permission by Israel to travel to Qatar for today's Asian World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan, a Palestinian soccer official said yesterday . . . A new Naples football club, formed to replace the bankrupt team of the Italian city that Diego Maradonna used to play for, has been handed a place in the country's Serie C.
