Today'ss other stories in brief
Ireland lose out to deadly Dutch
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland women's under-19 team were beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands in their opening game of the Uefa Championships elite qualifying phase in Madrid yesterday.
Two goals from striker Chantal Ridder, one in each half, ended Ireland's 100-per-cent record in the competition.
The Susan Ronan-managed Irish side will feel aggrieved they did not grab a goal back late on after Aine O'Gorman slotted the ball into the net from close range but was adjudged to be offside.
The Irish face Serbia in the second elite-phase qualifying fixture tomorrow as they try to get their qualification hopes back on track. Only the winner of the four-nation group will advance to the eight-team finals to be held in France this summer.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Bradley, McCormack, Murray, McGilp, Quinn, O'Gorman, Hacket, Grant (Roche 50), Murray, Madden (Russell 45), Ryan (McDonnell 74 mins).
Milan loath to pay for Shevchenko
ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO will return to AC Milan only if Chelsea agree to loan the Ukraine striker free of charge, according to the player's agent.
Shevchenko has struggled to make an impact for the Blues since his €38-million transfer to Stamford Bridge from the Rossoneri in May 2006.
The player's agent Fabio Parisi said: "(AC Milan vice-president Adriano) Galliani has always been very clear when stating that the deal can only be done if Chelsea allow Milan to have the player as a free loan.
"If Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will give his okay then I think the deal could be done."
Meanwhile, Luka Modric (22) appears to be close to signing for Newcastle United for a reported €25 million after the Croatia and Dinamo Zagreb playmaker visited both St James' Park and the club's training ground earlier this week.
Derry seek help of NI assembly
DERRY CITY will look to win much-needed support from the Northern Ireland Assembly for their planned redevelopment of the Brandywell stadium when they meet members from all parties on Monday in an attempt to persuade them of the scheme's merits, reports Emmet Malone.
The club is looking to raise around €19 million for the project, which will involve the construction of an 8,000 all-seater stadium with seven Astroturf training pitches. Corporate boxes designed to double as classrooms on non-match days and 22,000 square feet of retail space are also part of the plan.
Though the local council has agreed to sell the ground to the club for a nominal sum, City must still raise the capital required for the work.
It has been suggested that the availability of substantial public funding may have become linked to agreement first being reached on the issue of the proposed new multi-sports stadium due to be built in either Lisburn or Belfast.
McCaffrey names squad for European under-17 finals
REPUBLIC OF Ireland under-17 manager Sean McCaffrey yesterday named all but two of the squad that clinched qualification when announcing his squad for the Uefa Championship finals in Turkey next month, writes Paul Buttner.
Goalkeeper Gavin Carlin comes in for the injured Harry Lee while defender Richie Towell replaces Gavin Holohan. Johnny Dunleavy is a slight doubt with a hip injury and a decision on him will be made ahead of the squad's departure for Antalya on Monday.
Ireland meet France first on Sunday, May 4th. Switzerland are up next, on May 7th. The third group game, against Spain, is on Saturday, May 10th. The group winners and runners-up go through to the semi-finals.
IRELAND SQUAD: G Hanley (Salthill Devon), G Carlin (WBA), P Ormsby (Crumlin United), R Towell (Celtic), J Dunleavy (Wolves), M Connolly (Wolves), K Keane (Derby Co), G Gunning (Blackburn), S Timmins (Birmingham), A Doran (Blackburn), C Clifford (Chelsea), C Hourihane (Sunderland), J Sullivan (Crumlin United), G Morrissey (Ringmahon Rangers), G Cunningham (Man City), P Murphy (Ipswich), D Satelle (Hull), R Brady (Man United).
Cardiff get green light for Uefa Cup
CARDIFF CITY will represent England in next season's Uefa Cup should they beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup final, the English FA announced yesterday.
Under current FA regulations Cardiff would not automatically qualify for Europe by winning the FA Cup - as a Welsh side they would normally qualify via the Welsh Cup.
But the FA board today approved a move to allow Cardiff to take the Uefa Cup place if the Championship side are victorious at Wembley next month.
An FA statement said: "The board has given full approval for Cardiff City to participate in next season's Uefa Cup as one of England's representatives, should they win this season's FA Cup. It was decided that the Welsh national anthem would also be played ahead of the game."
Uefa had already signalled that they would offer Cardiff a wild card should they win.
Hungary opt for Koeman
THE HUNGARIAN FA said yesterday it had appointed the former Netherlands midfielder Erwin Koeman as coach.
The 46-year-old Koeman, who will take up the job on May 1st, replaces Peter Varhidi, who took over in December 2006 and failed to earn his side qualification for Euro 2008.
Erwin Koeman, the elder brother of former Netherlands defender Ronald, managed Feyenoord until he resigned in May of last year.
