A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Cardiff make move for Holland
Cardiff City boss David Jones is reported to have approached Charlton Athletic about the possibility of signing Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland before the November 28th deadline for emergency loan moves, writes Emmet Malone.
The Welsh club have made a strong start to the English Championship season but injuries have deprived Jones of several important squad members and he has expressed admiration for Holland who has fallen out of favour with the London club.
It is not yet clear whether Charlton would be prepared to loan Holland out and, with Cardiff having experienced financial problems over the past 12 months, any deal is likely to depend on the Premiership club's willingness to continue paying a portion of the player's wages.
United continue to charm Ballack
Manchester United are trying to arrange for Michael Ballack to spend a day at Old Trafford as part of their charm offensive to sign him from Bayern Munich. The club have already put together a financial package that would make him the Premiership's highest-paid player, with an annual salary of £6 million, and Alex Ferguson's next move will be to inform the 29-year-old Germany captain that he wants him to succeed Roy Keane as captain.
Ballack is free to speak to other clubs from January 1st but United used intermediaries to register their interest six months ago and they are so confident of finalising the free transfer for next summer that one club official declared recently that it was "almost a done deal".
"I just want to have the opportunity to listen to other offers," Ballack told a press conference in Munich yesterday.
Benitez to go big in Japan
Manager Rafael Benitez says Liverpool are taking the Fifa Club World Championship seriously and will send a full-strength squad. The tournament, designed to find the best club side in the world, is taking place in Japan from December 11th to 18th and Liverpool are competing as champions of Europe.
"We are delighted with this possibility," Benitez said. "We will try and do our best. People say we will be tired or will not go with the best team, but we will go with the best team and try and be as fit as possible because this is a great challenge for me."
The Spaniard is on the verge of a hat-trick of winning the Uefa Cup, Champions League and Club World Championship in successive seasons.Liverpool and South American champions Sao Paulo receive byes into the semi-finals. The other teams involved in the tournament are Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, Australia's Sydney FC, Asian Champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and African champions Al Ahly Cairo of Egypt.
Collins suspended by Rovers
The difficulties between Shamrock Rovers manager Roddy Collins and the club's recently installed supporter-based board came to a head last night when the former Bohemians and Carlisle United boss was suspended from his position for a week, reports Emmet Malone.
Collins and the directors have been at loggerheads primarily over the club's finances.
The suspension will last until just before the first of the club's two relegation play-off games next week and club sources suggested last night that it is hoped Terry Eviston will take charge of the side for Friday night's league game against UCD.
Rangers keep options open
Rangers chairman David Murray has revealed he has already discussed possible replacements for manager Alex McLeish but denied approaching anybody yet. The Ibrox chief has given McLeish until early December to turn his side's fortunes around.
Murray said: "At all times we are looking at alternatives. I have kept my own counsel with (chief executive) Martin Bain but we know what we would do. Of course we have talked about a potential successors. But nobody has been offered a job."
In Brief . . .
Real Madrid's Brazilian forwards Ronaldo and Julio Baptista have recovered from injuries and should be fit for Saturday's Spanish league match against Barcelona . . . Bolton forward El Hadji Diouf has been fined £500, plus £500 costs, by a British court after admitting he spat at a fan during a match at Middlesbrough a year ago . . . Newcastle winger Albert Luque will not be risked at Chelsea on Saturday as he battles his way back from a torn hamstring . . . Sven-Goran Eriksson has said he will wait until the outcome of the World Cup finals draw next month before deciding upon England's opponents for their three remaining preparation games.
