Today's other stories in brief
Villa still an object of desire
Michael Neville is renewing his bid to buy Aston Villa and admitted it would be "fantastic" if Martin O'Neill succeeded David O'Leary as manager. The life-long Villa fan Neville was part of the consortium, which included the Irish property developers the Comer Brothers, who were interested in taking over last season. That bid collapsed but Neville believes he has new parties willing to lend their support.
Neville said of O'Neill: "It would be fantastic to have him. Any club that has him on board would be very fortunate. He is top of the tree."
Campbell to play on, but where?
Sol Campbell has no intention of ending his playing career, despite his shock decision to leave Arsenal, and would relish a move abroad.
The 31-year-old England defender said: "All this talk of me quitting and going to Hollywood is rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.
"I want to take my football into a new realm and playing abroad will do that. Yes there are clubs interested in Italy, Spain, Germany and here at home but there is nothing finalised."
Juventus' lawyer pleads for leniency The lawyer representing Juventus at the appeals trial in Italy's match-fixing scandal pleaded for leniency yesterday, saying that last week's decision to relegate the club to the second division with a 30-point penalty would have "devastating consequences".
"Just to survive in Serie B next season we estimate that Juventus will have to earn about 80 points," Cesare Zaccone told the appeal court's five judges. Zaccone also asked the court to consider the effects on Juventus' income from sponsorship and TV rights and on investors who had bought shares.
Juventus' former general manager Luciano Moggi's conduct did not constitute "sporting fraud", Zaccone argued, but the lesser crime of "unfair conduct", which gave the court "greater freedom to choose an appropriate sanction".
In brief . . .
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has quashed reports in the Spanish media by ruling out any move to Real Madrid for midfielder Xabi Alonso . . . Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has vowed to bring in a replacement for Frank Queudrue, as he expects the Frenchman to secure a move away from the Riverside Stadium early this week . . . Swedish international goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson's agent has confirmed Charlton are interested in signing his client from French side Rennes . . . Blackburn are stepping up their bid to sign Porto striker Benni McCarthy (28), but the player's agent yesterday played down suggestions a transfer is imminent . . . Spanish side Levante claim they have been priced out of a move for Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg . . . Everton's Nigerian international defender Joseph Yobo has signed a new four-year contract . . . West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand was sent for a scan yesterday after limping out of the friendly against IFK Gothenburg with a hamstring injury.
