Former England and Southampton forward Matt Le Tissier could make his comeback on Sunday, more than a decade after hanging up his boots, to help non-league side Guernsey FC get through a fixture logjam.
The 44-year-old, now a television pundit, was born on the Channel Island of Guernsey and is the honorary president of the club, while his brother Mark is a director.
“The fixture pile-up has been a bit mad and they need all the bodies they can get,” Le Tissier said. “The first squad I’ll be available for is next Sunday’s game at home to Raynes Park Vale.”
Le Tissier retired as a player in 2002 after 541 appearances for Southampton and eight matches for England, and was registered by Guernsey earlier this season.
Aon sponsors United training kit
Insurer Aon will sponsor Manchester United’s training kit and have its name attached to the club’s training ground under a new eight-year agreement announced yesterday.
The commercial appeal of the Premier League giants means they can do separate sponsorship deals for their training kit and the famous red shirts they play in.
It is the first time United have sold naming rights to their training ground in Carrington on the outskirts of Manchester in northern England. The facility will be called the Aon Training Complex under the agreement that begins in July.
Youngsters must force me out – Neill
Australia captain Lucas Neill has no intention of quitting international football to make way for the new generation.
Currently, considering his club options after concluding a one-season deal with Sydney FC, Neill said his focus was on giving himself the best preparation for what he hopes will be a third successive World Cup finals appearance in Brazil next year.
“No one is going to tell me I’m retiring from Australia. I’m playing for my country and I’ll play for as long as I can. It’s up to somebody else to come and say: ‘Right, I’m better than you now. A better leader and a better defender’.
“And I’ll step aside.”
St Mirren to vote against changes
St Mirren have confirmed plans to vote against league reconstruction proposals when a ballot of top-flight clubs takes place next week.
The 12 Scottish Premier League clubs are set to vote on the plans, which would include a merger with the Scottish Football League and the introduction of a 12-12-18 structure, next Monday.
The Saints have expressed concerns about specific aspects of the current proposals, which SPL bosses want in force for the start of next season, including plans to split the top two divisions into three groups of eight during the campaign.
Injured Pisano out for season
Cagliari defender Francesco Pisano has been ruled out of the rest of the Serie A season after fracturing his fibula.
The 26-year-old was with-drawn after 29 minutes of Sunday’s goalless draw at Catania after complaining of sharp pain when planting his studs in the turf.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Francesco Pisano has suffered a fracture to the fibula of his left leg.
“The prognosis will be better defined over the next few days but it is clear that the season is already over for the defender.”
Stramaccioni in penalty fury
Inter head coach Andrea Stramaccioni accused referee Andrea Gervasoni of awarding a non-existent penalty in Sunday’s surprise 4-3 defeat to Atalanta at San Siro.
With Inter leading 3-1 midway through the second half, Gervasoni pointed to the spot in the 64th minute. It was not immediately clear who had committed a foul in the Inter box but German Denis made no mistake before completing his hat-trick inside 13 minutes.
Stramaccioni said: “The referee greatly influenced the outcome. He said it was for a handball by (Walter) Samuel.
“It turned out to be something that only the referee saw. I think Gervasoni, acting independently and on his own, influenced the outcome by seeing something that wasn’t there.”
Advocaat to leave PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven technical manager Marcel Brands has admitted it is “unlikely” Dick Advocaat will stay with the club beyond the current season.
Philip Cocu, who was caretaker manager at the end of last season before Advocaat’s appointment in the summer, is widely expected to be appointed as the former Holland coach’s replacement.
When asked whether Advocaat would still be at the club next season, Brands told Studio Voetbal: “It is unlikely that he will.”