Arena: Bruce Arena will not be retained as coach of the US national soccer team, it was announced yesterday. The US were knocked out in the first round of the World Cup finals in Germany last month, losing to the Czech Republic and Ghana and drawing with eventual winners Italy. The 54-year-old Arena was the most successful national coach in US soccer history, winning 71 of his 130 matches in charge during an eight-year spell.

Japan: Former Yugoslavia soccer coach Ivica Osim will sign up as Japan's coach on July 21, according to the Kyodo news agency. The 65-year-old, who currently coaches J-League club JEF United Chiba, had been widely tipped for the national position after Zico's decision to step down after Japan's disappointing performance at the World Cup.

Wigan: AZ Alkmaar have agreed to sell Dutch Denny Landzaat to English Premier League club Wigan Athletic. The Dutch first division side said yesterday that the 30-year-old midfielder still had to work out personal terms but that the clubs had agreed an undisclosed transfer fee.

Aston Villa: Aston Villa players issued a statement yesterday attacking long-standing chairman Doug Ellis as penny-pinching and lacking ambition for the Premier League club. The Villa squad issued a joint statement raising concerns over 82-year-old Ellis, who put the club up for sale in October. "The chairman should be behind the club and not working against what we're trying to achieve," said the statement which was widely reproduced in British media.

Match Delayed: The start of Scottish Premier League side Rangers's pre-season game against Jomo Cosmos in Bloemfontein was delayed yesterday after the car carrying the match officials was involved in an accident. "The match commissioner, Washington Mokgadi, who was driving the vehicle, was seriously injured," Bloemfontein Celtic manager Khumbulani Konco said. Referee Mohutsiwa Monyaki, linesmen Mokoena Khoabane and Penny Matshogo and fourth official Molefe Motoai, were also hurt.