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Joe Haverty dies aged 73

JOE HAVERTY, who has died in Dublin at the age of 73, will be recalled as one of the great entertainers in Irish football, a player of consummate skill who, in a sporting context, did much to lighten the gloom of the austere 1950s in Ireland, writes Peter Byrne.

In all, he made 32 international appearances between 1956 and 1966, after starting his senior career with St Patrick’s Athletic and becoming a cult figure at Arsenal within months of his arrival there from Richmond Park in 1955.

Wingers were the wonder of the age in post-war British club football and the measure of Haverty’s ability is that for Ireland and Arsenal supporters at least, he was soon being spoken of as a natural successor to the arch exponents of the art in beating fullbacks, Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney.

Jack Carey, for some, the true patriarch of the game in Ireland, buried his disappointment after seeing his team embarrassed in a 5-1 defeat by England in a World Cup game at Wembley in 1957, to describe Haverty as the best player on the pitch – “a man who can become the talk of Europe”.

That was high praise from a man seldom given to the overstatement and the fact that the England team of the day contained three of the famous Busby Babes, Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, as well as Matthews and Finney, merely heightened the significance of the remark.

In a statement yesterday, the FAI described Joe Haverty as a genuine hero of the people whose flair and invention on the pitch was matched only by his ebullient character and good humour after the sun had set on his glory days.

Fifa have given the FAI permission to mark Haverty’s passing with a minute’s applause before this evening’s World Cup game against Georgia at Croke Park. His funeral takes place after 10am mass this morning at St Finian’s Church, River Valley, Swords.

AC Milan confident of getting Beckham

AC Milan are increasingly confident of securing David Beckham on a permanent deal.

The Italian club are prepared to help the England midfielder extricate himself from his Los Angeles Galaxy contract and provide him with the opportunity to stake a claim to play in the 2010 World Cup finals. Galaxy have rejected one bid from Milan, but the Italian club have pointed out that they cannot be expected to stump up a big fee for a 33-year-old who will be a free agent in November if he exercises a clause in his contract.

The main problem surrounds the complexity of Beckham’s agreement with Major League Soccer and the Galaxy, but if the player has to buy himself out of his contract then Milan are prepared to help him.

“It is a very complicated contract in the USA but we will do what we can to help him move,” a Milan spokesman said. Beckham could expect a deal with Milan at least until the end of next season, but the club insist they are not targeting him for his “brand”.

Hart wants new manager soon

PORTSMOUTH caretaker manager Paul Hart believes the club should appoint a permanent replacement for Tony Adams “as soon as possible”. Hart could be in charge of Portsmouth for Saturday’s Premier League match against Manchester City at Fratton Park.

Hart said: “It’s a very, very good football club and we’re on the fringe of doing an awful lot, so (bringing in a new manager) as soon as possible would be great. ”

Adams has revealed he almost left Portsmouth towards the end of last year, when he became frustrated over transfer policy. Owner Alexandre Gaydamak decided the money brought in from the sales of Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe would not go directly to the manager. Adams said: That’s the owner’s prerogative, I am not going to criticise him. He’s put an awful lot of money into this club. But suddenly, as manager, the goalposts had been moved and if you take the tools away you cannot do the job.”

Club 'didn't want to lose' Keegan

MANAGING director Derek Llambias insists owner Mike Ashley was as disappointed as anyone involved with Newcastle when Kevin Keegan left St James’ Park last September.

Llambias believes the controversial billionaire will one day reveal all about the “Keegangate” affair, which saw the Magpies idol resign as manager for a second time – he also resigned in 1997. St James’ Park was left in turmoil when Keegan left and Ashley put the club up for sale after tiring of the abuse dished out by fans who were dismayed by the former England manager’s exit.

“We didn’t want to lose Kevin,” Llambias told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

“But we can’t answer any questions on Kevin Keegan until we have made a settlement.” Ashley will speak out in future, revealed Llambias.