By Emmet Malone.

Rooney begins role

After meeting the staff of the association for the first time yesterday, new FAI chief executive Fran Rooney said that he sees the implementation of the Genesis report's key recommendations as a major priority for him as he takes on his new role, writes Emmet Malone.

Rooney described the successful implementation of the report as "fundamental" to the association's chances of transforming itself into a more professional organisation. He said that, with this in mind, he would be seeking to have the other senior management appointments envisaged in the report made as soon as possible.

"The appointment process should be advanced immediately," said Rooney, who also had his first official meeting with the association's officers. He expressed some satisfaction with the amount of work that had already been done on the implementation of the report but added: "It is important that this work continue with pace."

Noel Hunt, meanwhile, has been forced to pull out of Don Givens's under-21 squad for next month's games against Germany, Albania and Georgia. The Dunfermline striker is to undergo surgery on a cartilage injury and will be out until next season.

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Snub for O'Leary

David O'Leary has been handed an embarrassing snub and told to forget any aspirations of returning to his old post of Leeds' manager as the club prepare to extend their deadline in the search for a successor to Terry Venables.

The club's chairman, Professor John McKenzie, and his board meet in London today to begin the process of elimination in the hunt for their fourth manager in just over a year. One name which will not figure on their five-man shortlist is that of O'Leary.

Leeds have been embarrassed by public claims from the 42-year-old that he still has the backing of fans and would be "absolutely delighted" to be given a second chance after his sacking last June.

McKenzie and the plc chairman Alan Leighton are determined to explore almost every avenue but an official said last night: "David O'Leary's name is not under consideration." O'Leary believes last month's resignation of the former chairman Peter Ridsdale may have opened up a way to heal the rifts.

However, it was Leighton who ordered O'Leary's sacking and he would not sanction a rapprochement despite his pleas for a second chance and refusal to accept blame for the crippling £78 million debts.

O'Leary said: "I didn't want to leave the place and, if I were asked again, if I could sit down with the right people and talk to them, yes, I would take the job again without a doubt. People say I spent £90 million but I recouped more than £70 million of that.

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Sheringham goes

Teddy Sheringham will lead Tottenham for the final time on Sunday after the club confirmed they would not be renewing his contract when it runs out at the end of the season.

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle praised Sheringham (37) on the club's official website: "Teddy has performed a great service for us, not just on the field but by setting such a superb example for our younger players."

"He has also just completed another marvellous season for the club and we wish him well in the future."

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Bergkamp's trials

Dennis Bergkamp could face his third Football Association disciplinary charge of the season as the FA yesterday considered calling for a video of the incident in which the Arsenal forward seemed to grapple with Leeds' Simon Johnson after the referee Alan Wiley made no mention of it in his report of Sunday's match.

Bergkamp was on a yellow card when he tussled with Johnson on the turf after being tackled by the substitute towards the end of Arsenal's 3-2 defeat by Leeds at Highbury.

Meanwhile, Arsenal has sought to allay the concerns of players and supporters by reaffirming their commitment to start the 2006 season in the planned new stadium at Ashburton Grove. Uncertainty over the move after problems in raising funds for the £400 million project has led to some claims that Arsenal were taking a huge risk by pressing ahead with the move.

But in last night's Southampton match programme the club nailed its colours to the mast, declaring: "We are totally and utterly committed to Ashburton Grove. That cannot be stressed strongly enough. Contrary to press comment, we are not considering any other stadium.

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In brief . . .

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo is a doubt for next week's Champions League semi-final return with Juventus after straining a leg muscle in Tuesday's first leg victory . . . Stan Lazaridis has been offered a new two-year deal by Birmingham manager Steve Bruce . . . Football fans from more than 30 nations have made requests for nearly one quarter of the 450,000 tickets that went on sale last week for the 2004 European Championship, organisers said yesterday.