TOMASSON: Former Danish international striker Jon Dahl Tomasson has been appointed new coach of struggling Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade. He has signed a contract until mid-2017, the club said. Tomasson, 37, had been in charge of Dutch second division club Excelsior. At Roda, who sit just above the relegation zone with three points more than the bottom placed side, he replaces Ruud Brood, fired earlier this month after a disappointing run of results.

NOADES: Former Crystal Palace owner and chairman Ron Noades has died at the age of 76 following a year-long battle with lung cancer. Noades, who also had spells as chairman of Wimbledon and Brentford, was in charge of Palace from 1981-98. The club finished third in the top flight in 1991 and lost the 1990 FA Cup final to Manchester United at Wembley.

CAGLIARI: Italian Serie A club Cagliari are very close to signing Brazilian teenager Adryan from Flamengo. The 19-year-old will join the club next month after initially being linked with a move to Juventus.

CERCI: Torino winger Alessio Cerci is keen to play for hometown club Roma in the future. The 26-year-old came through Roma’s youth ranks but was sold by the club in the summer of 2010 to Fiorentina. “It is no secret that I would like to return to Roma one day, I’ve said that before,” Cerci said.

A-LEAGUE: A-League leaders Brisbane are five points clear after a 5-2 Boxing Day drubbing of Sydney FC. Former Sydney man Dimitrios Petratos was the stand-out for the leaders, scoring a hat-trick that included three penalties but just two goals.