Allardyce adds to French collection
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Your support makes all the difference.Sam Allardyce is ready to stage his own small-scale version of the French revolution, with two signings and an unexpected departure.
The Bolton manager has beaten a handful of clubs to capture the talented Cannes midfield Gérard Forschelet from under the noses of Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Rangers. The 20-year-old will join Bolton today in a deal that could eventually be worth around £1m in installments.
Allardyce is also hoping to clinch a permanent £500,000 deal for Bruno N'Gotty from Marseilles after a solid first six months on loan at the Reebok. N'Gotty will be offered a two-and-a-half year deal.
On the way out, however, is Djibril Diawara, whose loan from Torino will be cut short because of disciplinary problems. The centre-half has angered Allardyce by breaking a drinks curfew before a game and will be moved on quickly.
Scotland and the Republic of Ireland's hopes of using St James' Park to boost their Euro 2008 bid have been rejected by Newcastle United. The Football Association's Scottish-born chief executive Adam Crozier made the gesture to his counterpart at the Scottish FA, David Taylor, but the Premiership club have told Hampden Park officials that the notion was always a non-starter.
"I have spoken with the SFA and I can categorically state that St James' Park will not play a part in any Euro 2008 tournament bid," Newcastle's chief operating officer, Russell Cushing, said. "The rumour has become so real that even Adam Crozier, chief executive of the English FA, has hinted it.
"I know the Scots stick together, but you have got to draw the line somewhere. This puts the matter to rest for once and for all."
Scotland already have four decent stadia in Hampden Park, Murrayfield, Parkhead and Ibrox, but need another two to go with two proposed stadia from Ireland, which will include a refurbished Lansdowne Road.
A newly built arena in Dundee, Aberdeen's Pittodrie ground and Hibernian's Easter Road are all in the running to host Euro 2008 matches and the use of St James' Park would have needed clearance from the game's European governing body, Uefa.
"I don't think we would have any problem, but the decision would have to be one with Uefa's agreement," Crozier had said on Friday. Those proposals, however, now look dead and buried with Cushing's less-than-welcome words.
The Celtic striker John Hartson believes the Scottish FA should make his side's Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with Aberdeen an early kick-off to help avoid the crowd trouble which marred Rangers' recent visit to Pittodrie.
Players were forced to leave the field last Saturday after Robbie Winters was hit on the head by a coin thrown from the Rangers section. The incident sparked an angry reaction from the home crowd and a pitch invasion. Many felt the 5.55pm kick-off time might have contributed to the trouble as it allowed fans to spend hours drinking prior to the game. Sky could choose to televise the all-Premier League Pittodrie tie, which is the pick of the round, but the SFA and police are likely to challenge that.
Hartson believes that a night game would be asking for trouble: "If it is a late kick-off it could cause a problem. If they can stop the drinking before they get to the game it will stop the problem – that could be the answer."
Oliver Bierhoff has stepped down as captain of Germany. The 32-year-old, who has been unable to hold down a regular place in the national side over the past year, sent a fax to the German Football Federation explaining his move.
"By my decision I want to make a stand before the World Cup in Japan and Korea to prevent unnecessary conflicts about the issue," the Monaco striker wrote. "Of course my motivation will not change and I will still be giving more than 100 per cent. I will do everything in my power to help the team out there."
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who has captained the side when Bierhoff has been absent, will take over the role permanently.
The Germany coach, Rudi Völler, said he respected Bierhoff's decision. "He will still be an important man for me to talk to," Völler said.
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