Today's other stories in brief

Toshack's doubts on Celtic Cup

Wales manager John Toshack has expressed doubts about the benefit of a Celtic Cup. The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have agreed "in principle" to play three biennial tournaments, beginning in 2009.

But Toshack has said he would rather play teams of a style Wales will face in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers: "In the major tournaments - European Championship and World Cup qualifiers - we can get drawn in the same group as the Irish or the Scots.It hasn't happened this time, so normally you look to play opposition in friendly games similar to the type of opposition you will face in the competitive games."

Richardson leaves Sunderland

Sunderland have parted company with reserve coach Kevin Richardson. It is understood the former Everton and Arsenal midfielder has left the club following Ricky Sbragia's return as manager Roy Keane continues to reshape his staff.

Richardson, 44, originally joined the club as a youth team coach in 2000, but left to become Carlton Palmer's assistant as Stockport the following year. He returned as reserve-team boss under Mick McCarthy in October 2004.

Injury had Duff 'devastated'

Newcastle's Damien Duff has admitted he broke down after being told he was the first footballer to suffer the injury which might have ended his career. The 28-year-old is back in training after recovering from a dislocation in his foot suffered at Portsmouth in April. The Republic of Ireland international revealed his shock when his surgeon told him what had happened.

Duff said: "It was devastating. You should have seen me when I first found out in the surgeon's office, I broke down in tears. It was a dislocation in the middle of my foot, and the surgeon said he had never seen it on a footballer before, and that was a shock. It was a horrendous injury."

Benitez hopes to clear the air

Rafael Benitez hopes to have clear-the-air talks with Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before the Premier League showdown with Manchester United next month.

Benitez had been told by the US sports moguls that they would not discuss transfers until they made their next trip to Merseyside for the game with Alex Ferguson's men on December 16th. But Benitez said: "I would hope to speak to the owners before the Manchester United game.I don't know if that is possible but we will try."

Wenger shrugs off touchline ban

Arsene Wenger has shrugged off his Champions League touchline ban, labelling it "artificial" and suggesting it would not prevent him from communicating with his players.

The Arsenal manager will be confined to the stands for his team's final Group H match, at home to Steaua Bucharest on December 12th, after his sending-off at Sevilla on Tuesday, and Uefa could ban him for longer because he did not retreat to the stands after his dismissal.

"You can always communicate (with the bench)," he said. "It is a very artificial rule. If I say something to the guy next to me, he can communicate with the guy down on the bench. I don't need to communicate directly. It is a little bit an artificial ban."