Palermo coach Delio Rossi had a series of spats with club owner Maurizio Zamparini this season but he won’t part with the Sicilian outfit.
Rossi is being linked with a move to Fiorentina next summer as the latter are struggling to find form under the charge of Sinisa Mihajlovic. However, the move doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.
“I’ve read the Fiorentina reports, but I don’t think there will be a coaching change,” Guglielmo Micciche, the Palermo vice-president, said.
“The fans shouldn’t worry about a possible exit because Delio Rossi will remain at Palermo.”
Palermo and Fiorentina clash in today’s Serie A early kick-off.
Award takes Celtic’s Kayal by surprise
Beram Kayal joked that he thought Neil Lennon was “crazy” when the Celtic manager informed the midfielder that he had been named the player of the month for January.
The Israel international, 22, was on top form as the Parkhead club took full points from Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers while drawing with Hamilton.
Celtic also beat Berwick in the Scottish Cup and Aberdeen in the League Cup.
Kayal said: “I came in and the manager told me I was player of the month and I said ‘you are crazy’.
“I thought he was kidding me on. I am very happy and I have to thank him. Everyone in the team played fantastically last month... everyone could have taken this trophy.”
Hammers have to do without Keane
Avram Grant is confident that West Ham will be able to survive without Robbie Keane after losing him for at least a month with a calf injury.
The striker made a successful start to his career at Upton Park, scoring on his debut after securing a six-month loan deal from Tottenham last month. But the Hammers will have to do without the 30-year-old after he picked up a calf injury in last week’s 1-0 loss to relegation rivals Birmingham.
Grant said: “I must say in a very short time, Robbie has had a big, big impact on the team.
“He’s very positive, his character, he’s intelligent in his game, and he’s a good player.”
Houllier to hold Reo-Coker talks
Gerard Houllier will hold talks with Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker over his future at the end of this month.
Former England U-21 captain Reo-Coker is out of contract at the end of the season. But he has created a favourable impression with Houllier who restored him to the side after replacing Martin O’Neill as manager in September.
Houllier made him stand-in captain when skipper Stiliyan Petrov was sidelined through injury.
Houllier said: “Nigel is at us until the end of the season. He is improving but there is not the situation where there is 11 players and the rest are not involved.
“To me when you have a big squad they should be united.”
Ronaldo feeling ‘phenomenal’
Cristiano Ronaldo predicted he will perform even better during the final stretch of the season than at the start, saying he feels “phenomenal”.
The 26-year-old Portuguese international became the first Real Madrid player to score 50 goals in only 51 league games after he scored twice during his side’s 4-1 home win over Real Sociedad last Sunday.
“I think I’m going to be better during the final phase of the championship than in the beginning. I feel better now than I did one or two months ago,” Ronaldo said.
“The truth is that I feel phenomenal and I want that to be reflected on the pitch.”
Drogba wants World Cup chance
Chelsea forward Didier Drogba is determined to continue playing international football for Ivory Coast up to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
The 32-year-old would be 36 by the time that tournament rolls around, and he insists there is no way his appearance in a friendly against Mali in midweek was a farewell to the Elephants.
Drogba said: “I could not leave like that. The day I decide to retire internationally, I will take care to say goodbye to the fans. I would never creep away on my tiptoes.
“I’m not in the twilight of my career with Ivory Coast. I intend to participate in the next two African Nations Cups in 2012 and 2013.
“I’ll also play my third World Cup in 2014 in Brazil. If I am called upon, I will answer.”
Newcastle United to ban unruly fan
Newcastle United are to ban a fan who admitted using abusive language at St James’s Park.
Steven Hogg, 49, was fined £200 by Newcastle magistrates last week after pleading guilty to a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting language, but was not handed a football banning order as requested by police.
Hogg was arrested during the 2-1 Premier League defeat by Blackburn on November 10. The club’s head of security, Steve Storey, said:
“We are very disappointed that the magistrates did not see fit to support our efforts to try and stamp out racism at football by issuing a banning order.
“But irrespective of this, the club will be banning Hogg.
“Persistent foul and abusive language is not acceptable at football matches.”