Renard: Frenchman Herve Renard was named as Morocco coach yesterday, returning to African football in which he has enjoyed considerable success. The 47-year-old, who won the African Nations Cup with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast last year, has been tasked with leading the north African country to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He replaces Badou Ezaki who resigned last week.
Plasil: Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil faces six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury. The 34-year-old Czech international suffered the medial ligament problem during Bordeaux’s 4-2 win at Guingamp on Saturday in a challenge with home striker Sloan Privat. Plasil joins a lengthy Bordeaux injury list which also includes Cedric Carrasso, Milan Gajic, Nicolas Pallois and Gregory Sertic.
Cahill: Former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill’s described his exit from Shanghai Shenhua as “heartbreaking” after his contract with the Chinese Super League club was terminated yesterday. “I’m very sorry to announce that I have reached an agreement with Shanghai Shenhua to terminate my contract after being told that I’m not part of the new coach plans,” the 36-year-old Australian said. “Just thinking about saying goodbye to my team-mates and especially the amazing fans is heartbreaking.”
McKay: Rangers winger Barry McKay has finally put pen to paper on a new two-and-a-half year contract. Ibrox boss Mark Warburton revealed two months ago that he hoped to tie the 21-year-old deal on improved terms after his Light Blues rebirth. But McKay – who looked to be out of the picture under previous boss Ally McCoist when he was sent out on loan to Morton and Raith – has now killed off suggestions that talks had stalled by agreeing a deal to the summer of 2018.
Ajer: Norwegian teenager Kristoffer Ajer is set to complete a move to Celtic. Reports said Celtic have agreed a fee with FK Start for the 17-year-old to join the Glasgow club in the summer. The midfielder trained with the Scottish champions for a week in January before returning home to Norway. Ajer, who is in La Manga, Spain, where he played for Norway under-19s against Portugal on Monday, said: “Yes, the clubs agree. So we will look at my appointment and the medical test. It is amazingly big for me.”
Football results
The Championship: Blackburn vs Fulham 3-0; Hull vs Brighton 0-0.
League One: Blackpool vs Oldham 0-0; Bradford vs Southend 2-0; Bury vs Sheff. Utd 1-0; Colchester vs Chesterfield 1-1; Millwall vs Scunthorpe 0-2; Rochdale vs Crewe 2-2.
League Two: Accrington vs Carlisle 1-1; Hartlepool vs Notts County 2-3; Oxford vs Northampton 0-1; York City vs Exeter 2-0.
Scottish Cup, fifth round: Hibs vs Hearts 1-0; Kilmarnock vs Rangers 1-2.
Scottish Premiership: Dundee Utd vs Motherwell 0-3.
League Two: Berwick vs Annan Athletic 3-2.