Today's other soccer stories in brief
Three new faces at Turner's Cross
WITH a Premier Division licence secured, Cork City manager Paul Doolin went about strengthening his squad yesterday and unveiled three new faces at Turner's Cross yesterday, writes Carl O'Malley.
The former Drogheda manager has brought in two Latvian recruits in central defender Robert Mezeckis and striker Guntars Silagailis, from Skonta Riga and FK Riga respectively. Midfielder Shane Duggan (19), formerly of Plymouth Argyle and UCD, has been secured on a one-year contract, while striker Paul Deasy has been promoted from the under-20s. Mezeckis and Silagailis have signed one-year deals.
“They are two good players,” said Doolin. “Guntars is a big, strong forward and gives us another option up front. Robert played in the Uefa Cup last year and he’s also an international.”
Dundalk, meanwhile, have signed Liam Burns from Bohemians.
Beckham remains hopeful of permanent Milan move
DAVID Beckham’s future could be decided on Friday, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said yesterday.
“There is still a bit of distance but Friday could be the decisive day for Beckham,” Galliani said as Milan flew out for today’s Uefa Cup clash at Werder Bremen.
“The wish of the player is to stay, we will see how the situation evolves.”
The midfielder, on a two-month loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy, wants to remain in Italy permanently after impressive performances in Serie A helped him win back a place in the England squad.
Galaxy said he must go back to Los Angeles on March 9th after a Major League Soccer deadline to complete the transfer passed. However, Milan are still confident of reaching a deal when talks resume. Various figures have been bandied about after Milans opening offer of €5 million was turned down.
Belfast rivals fined and banned
BELFAST rivals Linfield and Glentoran have been banned by the Irish Football Association from playing each over the festive period for the next two years.
The governing body’s disciplinary committee took strong action against the JJB Sports Premiership sides after trouble flared at Windsor Park on St Stephen’s Day.
The clubs have been informed that no matches between the two will be played on a Bank Holiday, public holiday or in the holiday period between December 24th and January 2nd for the next two seasons.
In addition they have both been fined €1,100 each.
Irish Football Association president Raymond Kennedy insists a “strong message” had to be delivered to the clubs.
Both are planning to appeal against the disciplinary committee’s decision as they are outraged at the loss of potentially hefty gate receipts by what they see as a draconian punishment.
Abramovich holds on to second spot
CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich has seen his fortune slashed by around €7 billion in the financial crisis, according to a Russian business magazine.
Finan’s magazine yesterday published its annual rich list, and although Abramovich has held on to second place among Russia’s wealthiest, a fortune valued last year at €18 billion is now down to €11 billion.
Russia has been particularly hard hit in the crisis and several of the country’s tycoons have seen huge amounts wiped from their bank balances.
In May of last year, American magazine Forbes estimated Abramovich’s worth at €18.5 billion, placing him 15th in the world on their list.
Mikhail Prokhorov, the metals and banking billionaire, moved up from seventh place to top the list with a fortune of €11.1 billion.
Marseille move for Drogba
MARSEILLE president Pape Diouf insists he will do everything he can to bring Didier Drogba back to the Stade Velodrome.
Chelsea bought Drogba from OM in the summer of 2004 for around €27 million.
But the Ivory Coast international holds the Mediterranean club dear to his heart and spoke recently about the possibility of “finishing his adventure” with OM.
