A round-up of today's other soccer news

Kaladze major doubt for Georgia with knee injury

GEORGIA captain Kakha Kaladze may not be fit to face the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup 2010 group eight qualifier next Wednesday.

The AC Milan star has been named in the squad for the game at Croke Park despite fears a knee injury could keep him out for the rest of the season.

He said yesterday: "I will be with the Georgia team in Dublin, but I don't yet know if I'll play or not. The last few weeks have been very tough for me psychologically, I haven't even participated in training with AC Milan."

Georgia coach Hector Cuper added: "Kaladze has still not recovered from a recurrence of a knee injury. The first thing we will do is find out what condition he's in." THE Irish under-21s appear to have avoided the toughest of the qualifying groups for the 2011 European Championships following yesterday's draw in Aarhus. Don Givens' side will take on Turkey, Switzerland, Armenia, Georgia and Estonia in one of only two six-team groups, reports Emmet Malone.

Ten group winners along with the four best runners-up will progress to the competition's play-off stage with seven then joining hosts Denmark in the eight-nation tournament finals.

The Irish begin and end their qualification campaign against the group's top seeds, Turkey, with the first game between the two sides taking place in Ireland on March 31st, four days after a scheduled friendly against Spain.

Sky to pay over €1 billion for rights

BSkyB have agreed to pay a figure believed to be in excess of €1 billion to retain the live television rights to the majority of the biggest matches from 2010 until 2013. Sky have won four of the six packages on offer, each of 23 games. The next broadcasting rights deal is seen as crucial in providing some certainty of income in a difficult climate, as clubs with heavy commitments to wages and debt repayments face up to pressure on season-ticket sales and sponsorship revenues. It is believed that the broadcaster has again secured the first choice of the best matches and will air 92 games per year. The remaining two live packages, which are believed to amount to 46 games kicking off mainly on Saturday teatime and Monday evening, will go to a second round of bidding. Setanta, the incumbent, is believed to be up against the US sports broadcasting giant ESPN in a race for the rights, with a conclusion expected before the end of the week.

Kelly completes move to Stoke

STEPHEN Kelly has completed his loan move from Birmingham City to Stoke City until the end of the season . . . John Toshack has agreed a two-year extension to his contract that will make him the equal second longest serving Wales manager in history . . . Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has insisted that there will be no pressure on young Irish striker Cillian Sheridan following his arrival from Celtic on loan until the end of the season. "He'll get valuable first team experience if he can pull his weight and stay in the team, he could end up playing 20 games between now and the end of the season," said McGhee . . . Everton have confirmed that they have signed Irish under-21 international defender Seamus Coleman from Sligo Rovers . . . Michael Johnson is giving serious consideration to his future at Manchester City five months after signing a new five-year contract.

Keane out of Uefa Cup

ROBBIE Keane will play no part in the Uefa Cup for Tottenham because his transfer from Liverpool came too late for him to be registered for the knockout rounds of the competition.

The striker had played for Liverpool in the Champions League but the rules permit a club to add one player to their squad in mid-season, provided he has not been "fielded for another club currently in the same competition".

Hunt signs and defends stance

REPUBLIC of Ireland international Stephen Hunt has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at Reading, just a week after appearing to criticise manager Steve Coppell’s handling of the interest being shown in him by Premier League clubs during the transfer window.

The midfielder had a clause in his previous deal allowing him to leave in the event that somebody was willing to pay around €5.3 million for his services, but there have been suggestions that Coppell stymied would be buyers by insisting that the entire fee be paid up front rather than in instalments as is customary.

“You have to maximise your career and no one can blame me for that,” said Hunt yesterday.

“If Premiership clubs show an interest you can’t blame me for that either. I came here from Brentford on a free transfer and if people want to pay £5 million then there’s nothing wrong with that. But signing a new contract shows my commitment.”

Beckham confirms he wants to stay

DAVID BECKHAM last night confirmed he hopes to stay at AC Milan on a permanent basis. His loan spell from Los Angeles Galaxy expires on March 9th and the Italian club were hoping to extend it. But, after playing the first half of Milan’s 2-2 friendly draw against Rangers at Ibrox last night, Beckham revealed he hoped to make it a permanent transfer.

He said: “At the moment my lawyers are not talking to the Galaxy but I have expressed my desire to stay at AC Milan now and it’s just down to Milan and Galaxy to come to an agreement.

“To be given the chance again to play at this level at my age is pretty incredible and I’ve enjoyed it so much I would like to continue it. I knew I would enjoy it but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I have and do as well as I have.”