A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief

Keane set to take over as manager of Ipswich Town

FORMER Republic of Ireland and Manchester United captain Roy Keane is set to take over as Ipswich Town manager in the next 24 hours following Jim Magilton's exit earlier yesterday.

Rumours circulated last night after former Sunderland manager Keane started at odds of 14 to 1 with many bookmakers to take the Portman Road post. But that tumbled to just 1 to 3 to take over from early favourite Glenn Hoddle in the betting.

Ipswich sacked Magilton following the club's failure to make the play-offs in the English Championship this season.

New chief executive Simon Clegg last night said Town were close to appointing a successor to Magilton at Portman Road.

Keane is now understood to be on the brink of accepting a return to management four months after resigning his post at Sunderland.

Associates close to Keane last night refused to rule out the possibility of the Corkman taking the job.
Dalglish would relish Anfield return

LIVERPOOL legend Kenny Dalglish has admitted he would love a return to the club he served so well as a player and a manager.

Speculation at the weekend suggested the 58-year-old Scot was to be brought in to oversee youth development at the club.

And Dalglish, who had a 14-year spell at Anfield before quitting as manager in 1991, said he would be happy to help out.

“I was as far removed from the weekend’s speculation about me returning to a role at Liverpool Football Club as it was possible to be but that’s not to say the Sunday paper stories and TV debate escaped me,” he said.

“All I can say at the moment is what I’ve said many times; if I can help Liverpool Football Club in any way, shape or form then I’m in. That’s not a new revelation.

“If I can be of help to the club I love in any capacity then I’m more than happy to play any part that I can.”

Celtic open to Premier League

CELTIC chief executive Peter Lawwell claims he would not be doing his job if he did not examine the possibility of joining a revamped English Premier League.

The issue of Celtic leaving the Scottish Premier League has come to the fore once again this week, with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside the brains behind a new two-tier English Premier League that would include the Old Firm.

Gartside is set to float the idea at a meeting of top-flight clubs today, although the topic is not officially on the agenda.

Lawwell insists Celtic are proud of their Scottish heritage but says it is his duty to investigate anything that would be of benefit to the club.

He told Celtic TV last night: “We are a Scottish club. We are playing in Scotland at the moment and are delighted to do that.

“It’s an exciting league but, in the long term, we have a responsibility to look. I think we would be obliged to look closer at something like that.We’ll just wait and see how it develops.”

Robinho pledges future to City

ROBINHO has revealed he intends to remain at Manchester City “for a long time to come”.

The former Real Madrid forward rediscovered his scoring touch on Sunday in the 4-2 victory against West Brom. It was his 13th goal of the season but his first this year and it ended a barren spell stretching back to December 28th. Robinho has been the focus of speculation and criticism as his goals dried up and questions were raised about his performances away from home.

As City prepare to travel to Everton on Saturday, the Brazilian has insisted he enjoys working with manager Mark Hughes and has no intention of leaving Eastlands.

“Expectations are high about how the team will do but my aim is to remain here for a long time to come,” Robinho said. “There are no regrets on my part about coming here. Hopefully in the future I will be even happier at this football club.”

Ferguson out for rest of season

BARRY Ferguson’s hopes of rescuing his Rangers career suffered what could be a fatal blow yesterday after he was ruled out for the rest of the season after he tore a calf muscle during a reserve game.

That will spark speculation that he has played his last game for the club which this month suspended him for two weeks for making v-signs at photographers after being dropped from the national team for indulging in an early-hours drinking session.

Becks in demand

• AC MILAN want loan signing David Beckham back next year, chief executive Adriano Galliani said yesterday amid speculation that Tottenham want to buy the England midfielder from Los Angeles Galaxy.
• BRAZIL striker Adriano could have his contract with Inter Milan terminated within the next 24 hours. Two weeks ago, the 27-year-old failed to return to Italy following international duty, and announced he was taking a leave of absence.