Football news

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, of Arsenal, have backed Michel Platini's plan to give domestic cup winners a place in the Champions League, a senior UEFA official said yesterday.

UEFA president Platini met a number of Europe's leading coaches which included Wenger, Mourinho, Ottmar Hitzfeld, of Bayern Munich, and Inter's Roberto Mancini to discuss the reform of Europe's elite club competition.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was not present. He opposes proposals to give 16 cup winners a separate qualifying route into the Champions League and an allocation of four automatic places in the lucrative group stages.

"Considering Mr Ferguson's comments it was refreshing to see that in particular both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho gave the new idea their blessing," Gaillard said.

Rozenhal plans long Newcastle stay

David Rozenhal is enjoying his stay at Newcastle and the Czech defender is planning to stay at St James's Park beyond his four-year contract.

"I would not be against a longer stay, with my wife we would like to settle down finally," Rozenhal explained.

"So far I have been telling myself that I was doing gradual steps to better clubs and better competitions. But now I am playing in the world's best league and I would not mind if I stayed there for a longer time."

Campbell agrees new contract

England defender Sol Campbell revealed his relief after finally agreeing a new two-year deal with Portsmouth.

Campbell's contract was due to expire at the end of the season but the 32-year-old has signed a deal which will keep him at Fratton Park until the end of the 2008-09 season.

"I'm delighted to have signed a new contract," he said. "It's dragged on a bit but everything's been resolved. There's always a bit of speculation but thankfully that's over now and I can concentrate on playing football."

Lehmann praised by Bierhoff

Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff believes that Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will soon win his battle for the number one jersey at the Emirates Stadium.

Lehmann has lost his place with the Gunners after poor early-season form and then Achilles and elbow injuries. But Bierhoff has no doubts that Lehmann will soon reclaim his place in the Arsenal goal.

"No coach in his right mind would leave him out. And I know he will overcome his Arsenal crisis, if you can even put it like that," Bierhoff said. "He has been at the very top for so long, a great goalkeeper who will win his first-team place back at Arsenal."

Stam not surprised by Ferguson

Former Man. United defender Jaap Stam is not surprised by Sir Alex Ferguson's recent admission that he made a mistake by selling him in 2001.

Ferguson sold the Dutchman to Lazio in a move viewed by many United fans as one of his few errors during more than two decades in charge at Old Trafford. Six years later, 35-year-old Stam is still performing to a high standard for Ajax.

"It is good that a man like Ferguson dares to admit that he makes mistakes," Stam said. 'It doesn't surprise me, though. I always knew for myself that United made an error by selling me."

Ardiles back in management

Former Tottenham favourite Ossie Ardiles has been named the new head coach of Argentinian outfit Huracan.

The 1978 World Cup winner, who played for the club in the 1970s, replaces Antonio Mohamed, who resigned earlier this week following a series of disagreements with the club's board.

Ardiles, who was manager at Swindon and West Brom, will take charge of the team for Tuesday's match against Independiente.

Materazzi in swift recovery

Marco Materazzi is staging an extraordinary recovery from his career-threatening injury. The defender required emergency surgery after a freak thigh injury left him with internal bleeding and a possible four-month lay-off.

However, just a few weeks after that setback, the massive bruise that caused his thigh muscle to swell up has all but disappeared.

"I underwent some more tests and X-Rays yesterday revealed the good news," Materazzi said. "I will be back in around 30 to 40 days."

Materazzi could return for Inter's away match at Palermo on October 28.

Coco quits football for acting

Inter defender Francesco Coco has quit football at the age of 30 to pursue a career in acting. Persistent injuries have hampered the career of the former Italian wingback who last season was on loan at Torino but failed to secure a move to another club this season.

"I have been thinking about this for a while now and it is a reasoned decision to quit football and start a career in the movies industry." Coco said.

Davies's job at Derby safe

Derby have distanced themselves from reports that they are lining up Paul Jewell to replace manager Billy Davies.

Derby are bottom of the table without a win after five games and were thumped 6-0 by Liverpool. Chief executive Trevor Birch said:"The story is complete nonsense. We have absolute faith in Billy's ability."