No Offer for Venables . . . Yet

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Irish Voice Sport

No Offer for Venables . . . Yet

December 20, 2007

By Cathal Dervan

SENIOR FAI officials have categorically denied reports that Terry Venables has already been offered the Ireland job after Graeme Souness withdrew from the race to succeed Steve Staunton.

Souness revealed to Star Sunday that he believes the job is already earmarked for Venables, a claim repeated by Mark Lawrenson on Today FM on Saturday.

“It is a huge pity as I feel this was a great job with real possibilities,” said Souness.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), however, have refuted the former Irish international’s claims that El Tel is “currently mulling over the offer.”

“There is no truth in this claim whatsoever,” a high ranking FAI spokesman told Star Sunday. “Nobody has been offered the Ireland job, nobody.

“The three man selection committee are going about their business and speaking to the people who have expressed an interest in the job and are suitable candidates in their eyes.

“There has been no deviation from that plan. They are talking to people and setting up meetings and we await their final report when they are ready to present it.”

Sources close to Venables in London have also confirmed that their man has yet to be approached by the selection committee members Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton.

Venables, who will turn down an approach from Bulgaria in favor of the Ireland job, does expect to speak to the FAI advisors soon however.

“There has been indirect contact but nothing official as yet and we are waiting on that,” said a close associate of the former England boss.

Meanwhile, Clinton Morrison is the latest Irish player to support the credentials of Venables. “There are a right few candidates out there and Terry Venables is one of them,” he said.

“He knows what I can do because he worked with me at Palace so he’d be a great appointment. He’s seen it at club level and international level so what else do you need?”

Ireland will meet Serbia in an international friendly at Croke Park next May as part of the preparations for the start of the World Cup qualification campaign.

Yellow McGeady

IRISH winger Aiden McGeady was left to count the cost of a yellow card in Celtic’s shock 3-2 defeat at Inverness on Sunday as the booking could rule him out of the crucial Old Firm derby at Parkhead on January 2.

McGeady was one of the few Celtic players to play up to standard as they threw away a two goal lead in the Highlands. The defeat leaves Celtic two points ahead of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League, but their rivals have two games in hand.

Manager Gordon Strachan admitted he was in a “state of shock” following the collapse when his team threw away a 2-0 lead courtesy of two goals from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink before 10 man Caley staged a stirring comeback.

“I am in a state of shock and I thought it was the most bizarre game of football,” Strachan said.

“After 40 minutes I was asking myself, ‘Are you sure we are at Inverness?’ because normally it is like a cup tie here and we were 2-0 up, while it could have been three or four.

“Then they got a penalty and whether it should have been given or not, I am not sure. The ball was played on, they had an attempt at goal and then the referee gave a penalty. I thought playing on gave you an opportunity to use the advantage and if you didn’t use that advantage then it can’t be pulled back.

“Scott McDonald had a goal ruled out which everyone could see was not offside so circumstances went against us. But we are not getting away from the problem that we have to defend far better.”

Celtic will find out this week if Sevilla defender Andreas Hinkel wants to make a move to Parkhead after making a bid for the German left-back.

Rovers Win Ruling

SHAMROCK Rovers are celebrating after the High Court ruled in their favor in their dispute with the Thomas Davis GAA club over their new stadium in Tallaght, giving them to go ahead with plans to finish the ground.

Rovers chairman Jonathon Roche said, “Obviously this is the news we were hoping for and it’s fantastic for everyone involved at Shamrock Rovers. I want to thank everyone who supported us along the way, from the South Dublin County Council to the various politicians and the FAI — and of course our great fans.

“It’s been 20 years since we lost Milltown, so we’re at the end of a long struggle. It’s a great testament to the fans that they remained loyal and they deserve this so much.

“It’s just a relief to think that Rovers will finally have a home. We can start dreaming again, and carry on with the rebuilding process that began at the club two years ago.”

Soccer Shorts

READING boss Steve Coppell paid tribute to Irish winger Stephen Hunt after the Waterford man scored from the penalty spot for the second week in a row in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham on Saturday. Coppell said, “He typifies the spirit of our team. Here’s a man who was a free transfer from Brentford. If a pro is really dedicated and applies himself, it just shows what he can achieve.” . . .

JOHN Robertson has been sacked as manager of Derry City with former boss Stephen Kenny likely to replace him. City, meanwhile, have signed Conor Sammon from Premier Division rivals UCD . . .

FINN Harps manager Paul Hegarty has signed a new long term contract with the Donegal club after celebrating promotion to the Premier Division of the eircom League . . .

WINGER George O’Callaghan could return to Cork City from Ipswich Town when the transfer window opens next month although Brighton are also interested . . .

DAMIEN Richardson has gone to the High Court in a bid to stay on as manager of Cork City after former Longford chief Alan Matthews was linked with the job . . .

DROGHEDA United manager Paul Doolin has been named Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2007 in honor of his team’s first eircom League title win . . .

WATERFORD United will bag $250,000 from Sunderland if their former striker Darryl Murphy moves to QPR as expected next month . . .

LEAGUE champions Drogheda United have signed defender Sean Prunty from Longford Town . . .

WEST Ham could move for Ipswich and Ireland midfielder Owen Garvan in January . . .

RODDY Collins has been linked with a return to management with Kilkenny City . . .

IRELAND remain in 35th place in the latest official rankings list published by FIFA . . .

STOCKPORT County have signed Cork City star Leon McSweeney.

Harrington Honor

PADRAIG Harrington has become only the fourth Irish golfer to win the prestigious Golf Writers’ Trophy in Britain following his breakthrough major win at the 2007 Open.

Named last week as the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year, the Dubliner now adds his name to a roll of honor which includes compatriots Joe Carr in 1953, Harry Bradshaw in 1958 and Christy O’Connor in 1977.

Harrington claimed more than 75% of votes in the poll, with Order of Merit winner Justin Rose coming second and Scotland’s World Cup-winning pair Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren third.

“I was thrilled to get the news that I had won the award,” said Harrington said. “It means a lot to find myself bracketed alongside such great former winners.

“The hardest part about winning something as big as the Open is probably motivating yourself to move on. The focus now is to move forward and not look back.

“Of course I’ve started thinking ahead to Royal Birkdale. In so far as it’s possible, I’m going to make a point of setting about doing everything in the same way as I did last year, minus my visits to the Barry Burn!

“Technically, I still think that my swing is improving and I’m changing to playing with a fade rather than a draw.”

Fallon Fails

KIEREN Fallon’s career in racing is under threat after the French authorities confirmed that a B test sample has confirmed a failed drugs test in August after the six-times champion tested positive for a banned substance after the win of Myboycharlie in the Prix Morny at Deauville.

Fallon, who has just had charges of race fixing dismissed in London’s High Court, now faces a disciplinary hearing in France next month that could result in a lengthy ban.

His solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore told The Times, “I had a letter at the weekend that confirmed the positive findings. The letter tells me that the Medical Commission wish to meet in January to consider the case. I have instructed our French legal counterparts to request all the relevant data before we decide on our next step.”

The news that Fallon had tested positive for a banned substance, believed to be cocaine, emerged the day after his race-fixing trial collapsed.

In other racing news, Jessica Harrington’s Cheltenham hopes have been dealt a blow after classy hurdler Macs Joy was put down after suffering a serious injury at Cheltenham last Saturday.

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