Maradona attacks FIFA 'dinosaurs'

Football great Diego Maradona says corruption and match-fixing scandals that have hit FIFA will continue as long as the sport's governing body is run by "dinosaurs."

The Argentine is in Dubai to sign a two-year contract to coach the local Dubai Al Wasl club.

Maradona said FIFA had been badly run over the years and attacked Wednesday's re-relection of President Sepp Blatter "who has never kicked a football." Maradona, 50, said an ex-footballer should be in charge but did not suggest anyone.

Maradona hasn't coached since leading his country to the World Cup quarterfinals last year. The Dubai club has not provided any details of the contract and Maradona denied reports he is being paid $10 million (£6m).

Van Nistelrooy to play in Spain again

The Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will play in Spain again after signing a one-year deal with Malaga.

The club says Van Nistelrooy passed a medical to seal a move from Hamburg. The former Manchester United forward scored 12 goals in 36 Bundesliga appearances after joining from Real Madrid in January 2010.

Friedel begins life with Spurs at 40

Tottenham have agreed to sign American goalkeeper Brad Friedel from Aston Villa. It is understood the 40-year-old will sign a two-year deal. Friedel's contract at Villa Park was due to expire at the end of the month and no transfer fee will be involved.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: "Brad is a top goalkeeper of real quality who has great experience. It is good to have three such experienced top goalkeepers at the club in [Heurelho] Gomes, Carlo [Cudicini] and now Brad and it means we have competition for places." Cudicini has signed an extension to the end of next season but Gomes has been linked with a return to his former club PSV Eindhoven.

Coyle pins hopes on Sturridge return

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has reiterated his desire to bring striker Daniel Sturridge back on loan next season.

The 21-year-old Chelsea player proved an outstanding success during a four-month stint with the Trotters last season, scoring eight goals in 12 Premier League appearances. With Sturridge facing a tough battle for a place at Stamford Bridge, Coyle hopes Chelsea will agree to loan him out again.

Coyle said: "I feel with Daniel that another period with Bolton Wanderers would certainly take him on to the next level of his career, and then be a starter for Chelsea. Just now he is under Drogba, Torres, Malouda, Anelka, Kalou – as outstanding a player as Daniel is."

Terry: I'd love to see 'good guy' Hiddink back in charge of Chelsea

John Terry said yesterday that he would welcome the appointment of Guus Hiddink as the next Chelsea manager, with all the evidence now pointing to the Dutch coach being given the job in the next few weeks.

Hiddink's Turkey side played Belgium last night in a Euro 2012 qualifier with the expectation that he will walk away in the next few days to go back to the club he managed three seasons ago.

Terry, who claimed he had not been consulted by the club on the decision, said: "I would [like to see Hiddink return]. He's obviously a very good guy. I've been in contact with him since he left as well. I know he's been involved with the club anyway, but I kept in contact on a personal level. That speaks volumes for him.

"He brought a lot of stability. He was a no-nonsense manager. Even with the senior players, completely. With him, when players turned up five minutes late for meetings they were left out of the side, having been in the side previously. No matter who it was. That was Guus, his type of character.

Guus Hiddink: The Dutchman is expected to leave his post as manager of Turkey in the next few days to return to Chelsea after three seasons

"He was very easy to understand and approachable as well but, at the same time, he had that about him too where no one messed about with him. He was in there for a short space of time, so sometimes it can be easier, but at the same time he loves the day-to-day stuff."

There is still doubt over whether Hiddink would work with Michael Emenalo, the No 2 to Carlo Ancelotti before he was sacked, or whether a coach would be brought in to do the job day-to-day with the 64-year-old Hiddink in a more senior role.

"Guus did like to do his own training and stuff like that," Terry said. "He was very hands-on and liked to do everything. He's very capable of handling it himself. I've seen that first hand. But maybe he would like to have someone with him, but also we've got Clem [Paul Clement] there as well who's been good. And the lads know him as well."

Mark Hughes, who quit Fulham on Thursday, is still an outside bet for the Chelsea job if there is a hitch with Hiddink. On Hughes, Terry said: "[He is] someone the club will hopefully be talking to. I know Mark and his background staff. The understanding of the club and what it means to the supporters will come naturally to those guys. If he is linked in, it will be welcome to the players."

Dalglish in chase for Henderson

Sunderland's England international Jordan Henderson has emerged as a leading target for Liverpool this summer as they seek to strengthen their midfield.

The 20-year-old has been identified as one of Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli's top targets with the hope that a deal can be done early in the summer.

Henderson has been a target for Manchester United but they want Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder.

A box-to-box midfielder in the Steven Gerrard mould, Henderson made his debut for the senior England team against France in November. He would cost around £20m as one of the brightest young English talents – he has four years left on his contract at Sunderland where he came through the youth academy.

Henderson made his debut for the senior England team against France in November

Liverpool are also interested in Stewart Downing at Aston Villa. They have missed out on Downing's team-mate Ashley Young, who is set for United. Charles Nzogbia, at Wigan Athletic, is another target. It is in keeping with the policy established by Kenny Dalglish and Comolli of signing players they believe still have their best years ahead of them.

There are concerns at Liverpool that United could muscle in on the Henderson deal. The player is represented by Neil Fewings, the same agent who oversaw Darren Bent's move to Aston Villa. There would be disquiet among Sunderland fans if he was allowed to leave but an offer of around £20m would be difficult for the club to turn down.

Ledley urges Vaughan to join Rangers

Celtic and Wales midfielder believes his international team-mate would enjoy rivalry of Old Firm games

Joe Ledley believes his Wales team-mate David Vaughan would enjoy himself in the Old Firm environment if he were to join Rangers. Blackpool midfielder Vaughan, 28, who played for Wales in the 3-1 Carling Nations Cup defeat by Scotland in Dublin on Wednesday night, claimed he had been subject to an approach from the Ibrox club and admitted his interest in joining the Scottish champions.

Asked what advice he would give to Vaughan if asked, Celtic midfielder Ledley, who missed the Scotland game through injury, laughed then replied: "I would say, 'You are going to enjoy it up here'. Two big clubs and you won't get bigger clubs to play for at the end of the day. But it's his decision, it is nothing to do with what I say.

"He will have lots of clubs after him because he's a great player. I've played with him lots of times with Wales and I played against him in the play-off final [for Cardiff]. It's not just Rangers who will be after him, there will be a lot of Premiership teams after him as well."

Ledley, at Celtic Park to model the club's new yellow-and-black hooped third kit for next season, was looking forward to teaming up with former Cardiff team-mate Adam Matthews.

The 19-year-old defender, who made his Wales debut as a substitute against Scotland last night, will arrive at Celtic in the summer. "He didn't have much time and he didn't play that much football last season so obviously he is going to be rusty," said Ledley. "He did well coming on under pressure and there is pressure playing for Cardiff and he dealt with that pretty well.

"He is a great player and there were loads of teams after him. He has a lot to learn and coming up here, hopefully, he will get a place in the team and do well. It's a fresh start for him and he will look forward to playing in front of the Celtic fans."

Ledley was disappointed to miss the end of the season and the Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell with a hamstring injury. "I was gutted," he said. "I tried to get back for the final but there was no chance. And obviously I am disappointed that we didn't win the league as well. But we played good football this season and it was great to get the first trophy and we will build on that for next season. I have still a week or so to go. I've done well, normally grade two [hamstring injuries] take six to eight weeks, so hopefully in under six weeks it will be fine."

Meanwhile, the Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is confident he can handle the pressure and responsibility of captaining Wales. His club manager, Arsène Wenger, has voiced concerns about Gary Speed's decision to entrust him with the job at the age of 20.

Wenger feels it could hamper his progress at a time when he is trying to re-establish himself in the Gunners team after recovering from a badly broken leg. Ramsey said: "I had a chat with my manager at Arsenal. I said to him that I didn't see a problem with it and that I was ready to captain Wales."

Juventus appoint Antonio Conte as new manager

Former midfielder Antonio Conte became the latest in a long line of coaches tasked with trying to revive the fortunes of once mighty Juventus today.

Conte has signed a two-year contract, the Turin-based club said in a statement.

Juve, who finished seventh in Serie A for a second successive season, sacked Luigi Del Neri last season after just one term in charge and have turned to the Siena coach having been linked with the 41-year-old in the past.

"We want to succeed and we want to do it with Antonio Conte. He is the first piece in the jigsaw to return to winning ways," club president Andrea Agnelli told reporters.

Conte, who led Siena to promotion back to Serie A this month, was at the centre of one of the best midfields in Europe in the 1990s and early 2000s as Juve routinely dominated Serie A and reached the latter stages of the Champions League.

He won 14 trophies as a player with the club known as the "Old Lady".

Since then Juve, Italy's best supported and most successful club domestically, have endured a dreadful spell on and off the field.

Their 2006 demotion for match-fixing was followed by an immediate return to the top flight under Didier Deschamps and ta third-place Serie A finish under Claudio Ranieri but both managers surprisingly left.

In 2009-10, both Ciro Ferrara and Alberto Zaccheroni failed to stop a sudden rot and they ended up a lowly seventh.

Del Neri was brought in, having guided Sampdoria to fourth, but Juve again flopped having struggled in the transfer market, failing to recruit the very top talent as they used to do with the stigma of match-fixing still haunting the club.

Juve, trying to boost revenues, move to a new stadium for next season on the site of their old Stadio Delle Alpi having shared with Torino the cramped Stadio Olimpico since 2006.

They will become the first Italian club to own their own ground but difficulties finding a sponsor for the new stadium have again undermined their attempt at renaissance and chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc recently announced his departure.

Fiery Conte brought Bari up to Serie A two years ago but then left after a row with the board before a short unhappy spell at Atalanta, who have been linked with a move for former boss Del Neri now they are back in the top flight.

"His CV speaks for itself," Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said of Conte from Italy's training camp.

"He is an extremely charismatic and positive person, he knows the environment perfectly. He knows Juve better than me and is intelligent and informed."

Posh striker Mackail-Smith set for Premier League

Peterborough United have accepted an offer from a Premier League side for Craig Mackail-Smith.

Norwich City failed with a £2.5m bid for the striker earlier this season and Wigan and Queen's Park Rangers have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old. Everton appear his most likely destination as they look to add potency to a misfiring attack. Mackail-Smith is to leave after helping Peterborough to victory in Sunday's League One play-off final.

After that success the side's 35-goal top scorer said he had his sights set on the top flight. "I want to play at the highest level I can and I want to play in the Premier League," he said, "though it all depends on what club comes in for me."

Michael Owen signs new deal at Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has sprung a major surprise by handing Michael Owen a one-year contract extension.

Owen's present two-season deal was about to expire and, having been overshadowed by Javier Hernandez last season and knowing new signings were expected - in addition to the return of Danny Welbeck from Sunderland, it was anticipated the former England striker would be released.

However, Ferguson evidently still views the 31-year-old as an important member of his squad.

"Michael has proved to be a top footballer," said Ferguson.

"It is unfortunate that he did not get more opportunities but the form of Chicharito (Hernandez) put everyone in the shade and his partnership with Rooney proved invaluable.

"I am delighted Michael is staying for a further year and we will look to give him more opportunities in the new season."

The last of Owen's two league goals closed a record 19th title-winning campaign for the Red Devils, and earned him a championship medal for the first time.

It was also enough to earn him a place on the bench ahead of Dimitar Berbatov for Saturday's Champions League final, although he did not play a part in United's 3-1 defeat.

"I am delighted to have agreed a one-year extension to my contract," said Owen.

"To play alongside so many great players, under an exceptional manager, and in front of so many passionate supporters is a real inspiration.

"I can't wait for next season to start."

The news casts an even greater shadow over Berbatov's United career, though.

The Bulgarian was tight-lipped when he returned home yesterday but it is difficult to see what role he could play unless Ferguson opts to unload Welbeck, who gained his first England cap against Ghana in March.

Arsenal not in need of overhaul says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal not in need of overhaul says Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's philosophy needs only minor tweaking for them to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title.

The Gunners finished 12 points behind champions Manchester United following an end of season collapse that highlighted the psychological frailties that continue to haunt them.

Wenger understands the "disappointed love" of Arsenal fans, some of whom have turned on the Frenchman, but insists the team is only five per cent away from becoming winners.

"The criticism has been sharper this year because of the impatience of people," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"People are used to us being in the Champions League so we have to give them more, but we're not capable of doing that.

"People love what we do but they want us to be rewarded so that they can be convinced we do things the right way. They want proof that we do things the right way.

"For our fans the frustration was that we were so close to convincing everybody of how football can be great, but in the end not being able to deliver.

"I would call it disappointed love. It was cruel and sometimes you get excessive responses to that. I share that and understand it.

"But that doesn't mean we have to change our philosophy or the way the club is run.

"We get it 95 per cent right, but we must gain that five per cent because it's so frustrating to flirt with success like we have done.

"The fans are unhappy that we didn't win the Premier League, but we are close.

"In 2003 we were also the best away team, but didn't win. We kept going and in 2004 we were very strong."

Wenger pinpoints Arsenal's run of two points from three games in late April as the end of their title challenge.

"I was happy with the attitude of the players and our away form," he said.

"But what was disappointing was that when we needed to push on, we could not show the nerves to deal well with some games.

"I'm thinking about Liverpool, Tottenham and Bolton. We had good opportunities to win those games and had we done, that would have been seven points more."

Arsenal conceded 41 goals in the Premier League with the set piece their Achilles heel, prompting Wenger to target some taller players in the transfer market this summer.

"We conceded very few goals from open play, most of them were from set pieces in a way you don't want to concede goals," he said.

"It's something that's easy to correct. We need to improve the size of our squad. We need a bigger variety in the height of our players.

"We need to be more capable of fighting against some characteristics than we have been this season."

Sam Allardyce vows to win over West Ham fans

Sam Allardyce has vowed to win over West Ham fans unhappy with his appointment as the club's new manager.

The former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn boss this morning agreed a two-year contract to attempt to guide the relegated Hammers back to the Barclays Premier League.

The appointment has divided opinion among the Upton Park faithful, with many fans turned off by Allardyce's direct style of play.

Owners David Sullivan and David Gold have opted for pragmatism over sentiment, with the 56-year-old having taken Bolton from the Championship into Europe during his spell at the Reebok Stadium.

"I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't think we could bounce straight back into the Premier League," Allardyce told http://www.whufc.com/.

"More than that, I wouldn't have contemplated the job if I didn't think there was the opportunity to build something substantial at West Ham.

"I know there will be West Ham fans asking whether I'm going to abandon the style of play that's been the club's heritage over the years.

"All I'll say is it will be a tale of home and away. At Upton Park we'll try to play the kind of game the fans want.

"We will aim to continue in the same way on our travels but we'll also be tough, hard to beat and utterly resilient."

Allardyce, who has been out of work since his surprise sacking by Blackburn's new owners in December, has reportedly been offered a huge bonus if the Hammers are promoted next term.

He replaces Avram Grant, who was axed minutes after West Ham's relegation was sealed by a 3-2 defeat at Wigan less than a year into a four-year deal.

But Allardyce is unlikely to be able to prevent an exodus of the club's best players.

Goalkeeper Robert Green, striker Carlton Cole and player of the year Scott Parker are all expected to quit Upton Park over the summer.

"That's probably going to be the case for financial reasons," Allardyce told talkSPORT.

"When a club is relegated it's a massive loss of revenue and you have to adjust.

"But for me, whatever happens, the basis is there of a very good squad and some good young players."

On the future of England midfielder Parker, he added: "I don't know yet, we'll have to wait and see. From a distance it looks very difficult, but there is no indication of any bids for Scott yet."

Allardyce confirmed he has added Neil MacDonald, his assistant at Bolton and Blackburn, to the backroom staff.

Air Asia owner makes West Ham offer

Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes has today confirmed making an offer to buy West Ham.

On the day current owners David Sullivan and David Gold unveiled Sam Allardyce as the club's new manager, Fernandes has decided now is the time to launch a takeover.

Fernandes is the current owner and CEO of the highly successful AirAsia airline, and also the owner of Team Lotus in Formula One.

On his official Twitter page, Fernandes said: "For all you West Ham fans an offer has gone to the present owners of West Ham. Let's see if they accept."

Lifelong Hammers fan Fernandes first declared an interest in buying the club, or at least a stake in it, in November last year.

On that occasion it is understood Fernandes met with then chairman Andrew Bernhardt in Kuala Lumpur, but was unable to agree a deal.

Talks, however, continued behind the scenes, with Fernandes poised to take a stake in the club in January.

At that time, however, Sullivan and Gold had already undertaken the due diligence process and went on to to complete a buy-out.

In a strange twist, Fernandes expressed relief his purchase did not go through, but clearly now believes he is in a stronger position.

With a Twitter follower pulling Fernandes up on the fact he said not taking over at West Ham was the best thing that had ever happened to him, he replied: "Yes, I did (say that).

"Because I was full on with Lotus. That has stabilised now."

Fernandes may feel given his more suitable bargaining position, and with the club only recently relegated from the Barclays Premier League, he may be able to acquire them at a good price.

For now, Fernandes intends to see what transpires, adding: "Won't be any more statements on West Ham. Keeping fans informed.

"Now we have to just respect the process. If something happens it happens. If it goes quiet it goes quiet."

Contacted by Press Association Sport, Fernandes refused to divulge any further details, stating: "That was just for the fans. Let's see."

Blatter: 'It's my duty to guide Fifa ship'

Sepp Blatter has compared Fifa to a ship in "troubled waters" and declared himself the "captain" who will guide it back on to the "right route".

Speaking in Zurich ahead of the presidential election - in which he is standing unopposed - Mr Blatter said: "We are all together in unity and solidarity.

"We all know that the Fifa ship is in moving waters, I could even say troubled waters.

"But I think this ship must be brought back on the right route and I am the captain of this ship.

"It's therefore my duty and responsibility to see to it that we get back on the right route.

"But I can only do it with your help because Fifa is you."

Mr Blatter is expected to win a fourth term despite calls from the English and Scottish FA to postpone the vote.

Prince William, the FA president, has backed the stance that a fair election cannot take place following allegations of corruption within football's world governing body.

The FA and Scottish FA have accused the world governing body of a "lack of transparency and accountability".

FA chairman David Bernstein wants Fifa to appoint an independent body to supervise reforms after scandals over the last month have caused a crisis in the embattled organisation.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan also confirmed its position that the presidential election should be postponed, saying recent events had made it "unworkable".

A Clarence House spokesman said last night: "The Duke of Cambridge, as president, has been kept informed of the FA's proposals and is fully supportive of the chairman and the initiatives the FA has recommended.

"He considers the transparency of the international governing body to be integral to the good governance of the game."

Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam pulled out of the race against Mr Blatter at the weekend, hours before he was provisionally banned from all football-related activities on bribery charges.

Executive committee member Jack Warner has also been suspended from all football-related activity after the Fifa ethics committee said it would launch a "full inquiry" into the bribery allegations.

The developments followed controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.

The USA's Fifa member, Chuck Blazer, whose bribery claims prompted the provisional suspension of Mr Warner and Mr Bin Hammam, said the FA's attempt to have the election called off had missed the boat in terms of influencing the organisation.

He said: "Unfortunately, with them, everything is too little too late.

"If they wanted other candidates they should have done things before the deadline.

"If they wanted to report malfeasance they shouldn't have waited for a parliamentary hearing.

"The FA needs to learn to be ahead of the curve and not behind the game."

Blatter arrives on stage before the 61st FIFA congess at the Hallenstadion in Zurich

Mr Bernstein admitted the attempt is almost certain to fail but insisted a "coronation" of Mr Blatter is unacceptable.

He said: "Going forward in this situation if he does with a coronation rather than an election I don't think does anybody any good - including Mr Blatter."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that an attempt was made to remove Mr Blazer from his position of Concacaf secretary-general.

Concacaf acting president Lisle Austin sent the American a letter saying that his contract was being terminated.

However, the confederation later confirmed that the dismissal decision was taken without any authority and that Mr Blazer remained in his position.

Major sponsors Emirates and Visa yesterday voiced their disappointment over the situation at Fifa, joining Coca-Cola and Adidas, which have also expressed concerns.

Fifa members voted by 172 votes to 17 not to postpone the election.

Afterwards Mr Blatter announced a major change to how World Cup hosts will be chosen.

In future, the tournament's hosts will be chosen by a vote of all the 208 member associations rather than the 24-man executive committee.

Mr Blatter said: "I want to give more power to the national associations.

"In the future the World Cup will be decided by the Fifa Congress. The executive committee will create a shortlist - but will make no recommendations, only a list - and the Congress will decide on the venue."

He continued: "We have been hit, and I personally have been slapped. We have made mistakes and we will learn from this. I can say to a certain extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems, and I am willing to face the public anger in order to serve football.

"I am the captain weathering the storm. This is a difficult period for Fifa and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water.

"We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation."

Sepp Blatter wins Fifa president election

Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as president of FIFA after the Football Association's attempt to block the vote ended in heavy defeat and vengeful recriminations.

Blatter, 75, will serve for another four years until 2015 when he has previously promised he will step down.

England now look isolated in world football after their attempt to stop the election was defeated by 172 votes to 17, with a further 17 abstentions.

Even Wales and Northern Ireland voted against England, while the fall-out saw several powerful figures in football line up to attack the FA.

A secret ballot saw Blatter, left as the only candidate for the presidency following Mohamed Bin Hammam's withdrawal on Sunday hours before he was provisionally banned on bribery charges, re-elected with 186 votes and 17 abstentions.

Blatter, who had earlier announced a new system of choosing World Cup hosts with all 208 FIFA nations voting instead of the 24-man executive committee, told the Congress: "I thank you for your trust and confidence from the bottom of my heart and together we will have four more years - provided the Lord gives me the life, the energy and the strength to continue on our path.

"I'm happy today we were once again able to bring solidarity and unity into FIFA."

In a reference to proposed reforms to clean up world football, he added: "We shall move forward, we will put FIFA's ship back on the right course in clear, transparent waters. We need some time, we cannot do it overnight, but we will do it."

Blatter also announced an extraordinary congress will be held to examine proposals for other reforms, and that an independent chairman of the ethics committee - the watchdog group set up in 2006 to deal with claims of malpractice in FIFA - will be elected by the Congress.

FA chairman David Bernstein said his organisation's move had been worthwhile and insisted they had not suffered for sticking their head above the parapet.

He said: "After hearing the speech from Sepp Blatter, we believe the calls we have made for greater transparency and better governance have been worthwhile.

"It was positive to be joined by 16 other nations, while a further 17 nations abstaining clearly shows that we are not alone or isolated in our views."

Blatter will take the World Cup voting decision away from the executive committee

After losing the vote, the FA were the subject of a vitriolic attack by FIFA's senior vice-president Julio Grondona from Argentina.

He told the Congress: "We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth. This upsets and disturbs the FIFA family.

"I see it at every Congress. They have specific privileges with four countries having one vice-president.

"It looks like England is always complaining, so please, I say, will you leave the FIFA family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth."

In an interview with a German press agency, Grondona called England "pirates" and added: "With the English [2018 World Cup] bid I said: 'Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote'. They then became sad and left."

Bernstein had said the recent scandals, which has seen Trinidad's FIFA vice-president Jack Warner suspended pending a full investigation into bribery charges too, had led to a situation where the election should be re-opened to new candidates.

"We are faced with an unsatisfactory situation. We are subject to universal criticism from governments, sponsors, media and the wider world," he said.

"A coronation without an opponent provides a flawed mandate."

Blatter said he would learn from the "public anger" and would lead FIFA out of their current predicament.

He said: "We have been hit and I personally have been slapped. We have made mistakes and we will learn from this. I can say to a certain extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems and I am willing to face the public anger in order to serve football."

The leaders of associations from Haiti, DR Congo, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus all spoke to criticise the FA's move.

Selemani Owari, president of DR Congo's football federation, made reference to ex-FA chairman Lord Triesman's claims in Parliament of impropriety by four FIFA members during England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.

Owari said: "We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations - he who accuses must provide evidence.

"FIFA belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions through the media or a Parliament in any third country."

Manchester United's Winger Nani Contemplates Move To Serie A

Nani is the latest Manchester United player to contemplate his future at Old Trafford, with the Portugal winger considering the possibility of severing his ties with the club in the summer.

The 24-year-old is intrigued by the prospect of moving to Italy and has spoken at length with his family and his agent, Jorge Mendes, about whether a move to Serie A would be possible and if it is the right point of his career to try to make it happen.

His thinking is not based on any serious discontent with his current employers, with Nani relatively settled in Manchester and enjoying his new status as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's more important players, but he is coming to the end of his fourth season in England and has started to believe it might be time for a different challenge, if not this summer then almost certainly next.

Nani's belief is that he has done as well as anyone could have been expected to filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and that a Premier League or European Cup winners' medal at the end of this season would leave him with little more to achieve at United.

Ferguson has talked him out of wanting to leave once before, in the 2010 January transfer window, but the player of then and now are vastly different in terms of their worth to the side. Nani's development into a wide player of penetration and confidence has led to him scoring 10 times and accumulating 15 assists this season, in contrast to his earlier days when there were only sporadic flashes of the talent that persuaded United to pay about £18m to sign him from Sporting Lisbon.

The winger, who has been declared fit for the Champions League tie against Marseille after recovering ahead of schedule from a gashed left leg, is currently playing the best football of his life, to the point where there is a firmly held belief at Old Trafford that he should be a realistic contender for the player of the season shortlist.

The Guardian broke the story of United signing the then 20-year-old Nani in 2007 and has spoken to the same sources in Portugal to establish that 12 months since signing a new four-year contract at United, he is deliberating over several scenarios depending on what happens before the end of the season. Importantly, he is willing to wait to see what pans out, in contrast to the way Ronaldo made it a personal mission to leave for Real Madrid.

In that regard similarities can be made with the cases of Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic, who were both tempted by moves to Spain before concluding that they would be better off staying in Manchester and signing new contracts. Wayne Rooney's dispute with the club in October was a more complex issue, but the fact all three decided to remain at Old Trafford is a reflection of the club's standing in the game and Ferguson's powers of persuasion when it comes to convincing players that the only direction after United is down.

Nani has won the European Cup, the Club World Club, two Premier League titles and two Carling Cups at United, and is someone Ferguson would desperately want to keep.

Even with Antonio Valencia returning from a broken leg, United are so short of options in wide positions that they are giving serious consideration to bidding for Aston Villa's Ashley Young in the summer. Ryan Giggs, at 37, has to be used sparingly while Gabriel Obertan and Bébé have struggled to impress and Park Ji-sung is not a natural winger.

Young and Downing to follow Houllier out of the door at Villa

While talks continued yesterday over a resolution to end Gérard Houllier's short reign as Aston Villa manager, both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing signalled that they will be leaving the club this summer.

Houllier, who has not managed the team since he was diagnosed with another aortic dissection in April, is understood to be in talks over a severance deal with the club that is expected to be resolved this week. The Fulham manager Mark Hughes is thought to be the chosen successor but the delay in appointing him means that he will cost about £2 million in compensation to leave his contract with Fulham.

In the meantime, Steve McClaren, the former England manager and currently out of work, is understood to be another possibility for Villa if a deal for Hughes falls through. However, the Welshman is the club's first choice and would have liked the job when Martin O'Neill quit in September – but had already agreed a deal with Fulham then.

A deal for Young to Manchester United for £15m is thought to be all but done. He has just one year left on his contract and Villa have no choice but to sell. Yesterday, Young, on duty with England ahead of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland, all but confirmed his ambitions lay beyond Villa.

Asked if he enjoyed watching United in the Champions League final against Barcelona, Young said: "I did find myself sat there thinking 'I wish I was out there'. I think it is great for the neutral to watch such a great game.

"[On Villa] I've always said I am going to talk to the chairman, talk to the manager after this game. That's where we are. I've always said the same thing. I have given 100 per cent in every game I have played for Aston Villa.

"It's always nice to have speculation. But I just have to concentrate and focus on England's game and prepare as I always do for a game. We know it's going to be a massive game."

As for Downing, who has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, there is no chance, he said yesterday, that he would be signing a new contract at Villa. He has two years left on his existing deal and, like Young, the likelihood is that he will leave in the summer.

Downing said: "I'm not sure [about my future]. We had the meeting with the club, we expressed our feelings and they said to me they're going to improve the team and the squad. So, as far as I know, I'll still be reporting back for pre-season because I've heard nothing.

Mark Hughes is first choice to be the new Aston Villa manager

"If I don't move, I'll get on with the job as normal. I'll do my best and give 100 per cent. It's up to their fans and their opinions of me. If they want to be loud and clear with what they think of me then that's fine. I'll still give my best because I'm employed to do so.

"It's my ambition to play in the Champions League and I would like to do that at some stage in my career. It does help if you're playing at the highest level. I'm not sure if it influences Fabio's decision if you're in the Champions League or if you're not. I think the main thing for him is that you're playing well."

Harry Redknapp confident of retaining Tottenham stars

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has reiterated his stance that none of the club's top players will be sold this summer.

Luka Modric was the latest Spurs player to be linked with a move from White Hart Lane this morning, with Manchester United reportedly ready to part with around £25million transfer for the Croatian midfielder, who has enjoyed a brilliant season at the London club.

The retirement of Paul Scholes means United are on the lookout for a replacement and although Modric insists he is happy at his current club, Sir Alex Ferguson could offer the midfielder Champions League football, and Tottenham can not.

Redknapp, who took Spurs to the Champions League quarter-finals last season, is determined to hang on to his most prized assets, however, and has warned that selling such players as Modric would undermine his long-term project of making the club top four regulars.

Redknapp said today: "All of our key players are under contract. "The chairman and I have discussed this and we have no intention of selling any of them.

"They are at a top club and we are looking to improve the squad in the summer, not weaken it, in order to push for a Champions League place again next season."

Despite Bale's outstanding at home and in Europe, Modric was arguably Tottenham's best player last year.

The 25-year-old, who signed from Dynamo Zagreb in 2008, scored only four goals in the campaign, but his tireless work in the centre of the park and his creativity would make him a plausible option for United after Scholes' retirement.

Modric has been linked with a move to Manchester United

The midfielder told a Croatian newspaper Jutarnji List today that he was happy at Spurs, but admitted he would leave the club so long as they were happy to let him go.

Speaking before Croatia's Euro 2012 qualifier against Georgia, Modric said: "Everybody wants to know what will happen with me.

"I'm trying to stay calm as my national team has a really important match coming.

"So I will tell you the same as all ways - my club status is the same as it was before.

"But of course, if an offer comes which is good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is of course possible.

"That doesn't mean that I'm bothered with leaving Tottenham. I'm not thinking about that every hour and every minute.

"I'm happy at White Hart Lane - my status is great, the fans like me and I do have everything I need.

"But then again, when you experience playing in Champions League, you want to keep playing in this tournament."

Spurs embarked upon a policy of tying their stars down on long-term deals last year.

Bale signed a new four-and-a-half year contract in March and Modric committed himself to the club by penning a six-year deal towards the end of last season.

Modric has insisted before this year that he is happy at Spurs and he is adamant that he would only leave if the club shifted their policy and said they were interested in selling him.

Redknapp is closing in on his first signing of the summer, with Tottenham understood to be in talks with former Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel about a potential two-year deal.

Friedel is out of contract following his spell at Villa Park and Redknapp wants to sign the 40-year-old to provide the erratic Heurelho Gomes with competition next season.

Redknapp is also in talks with Jonathan Woodgate over the possibility of offering the injury-plagued defender a pay-as-you-play contract.

The former Leeds defender, who has been troubled by a spate of injuries during his time at White Hart Lane, is the only senior player out of contract at the club this summer.

On-loan reserve goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa will leave the club at the end of next month after failing to establish himself at Spurs.

Butt's ambition is Old Trafford job

Nicky Butt wants to follow in the footsteps of Sir Alex Ferguson and manage Manchester United. Having won 39 caps, he also harbours ambitions to lead England out at World Cups and European Championships.

"You've got to get the highest level that you can and for me that would be manager at United or with England," said Butt who was attending the FA's Uefa A Licence course in Berkshire. "Hopefully the next part of my life will be as a coach or manager."

The good, the bad and the ugly of Paul Scholes

In an incredible career for club (150 goals in 676 games for Manchester United) and country (14 goals in 66 England games), Paul Scholes has seen it all and done it all.

Show us your medals

10 Premier Leagues (1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11)

2 Champions Leagues (1999, 2008)

3 FA Cups (1996, 1999, 2004)

2 League Cups (2009, 2010)

1 Fifa Club World Cup (2008)

1 Intercontinental Cup (1999)

Career highlights

1. England 3-1 Poland, Euro 2000 qualifier at Wembley (March 1999): Hat-trick in Kevin Keegan's first game.

2. Man Utd 1-0 Barcelona, Champions League semi-final, second-leg (April 2008): Scholes smashes a vicious long-range shot from 25 yards into the top corner. United go on to beat Chelsea in the final.

3. Bradford 0-4 Man Utd, Premier League (March 2000): Scores one of the great Premier League goals. He connects with an unforgettable right-footed volley from edge of area.

What the world's best say

Thierry Henry "He knows how to do everything. The best I have seen in the Premiership in the middle of the park."

Zinedine Zidane "Scholes is the greatest midfielder of his generation."

Glenn Hoddle "There isn't a player of his mould anywhere else in the world."

Wayne Rooney "He's the best I've played with and against."

Cesc Fabregas "He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League."

Xavi "Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more."

Sir Alex Ferguson "We are going to miss a truly unbelievable player."

Sir Bobby Charlton "He's always so in control and pinpoint accurate with his passing – a beautiful player to watch."

Seeing red

Paul Scholes was sent off 10 times during his career, with nine red cards for Manchester United and one for England. His three most notorious dismissals:

Everton 1-0 Man Utd, Premier League (April 2005): Sent off after receiving a second yellow for a reckless kick on Kevin Kilbane.

Man City 1-0 Man Utd, FA Cup semi-final (April 2011): Terrible wild and high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta.

Man Utd 1-2 Zenit St Petersburg, European Super Cup (August 2008): Emulated Maradona when he punched Wes Brown's cross into the top corner as United chased an equaliser.

And one that got away:

Barcelona 2-0 Man Utd, Champions League final (May 2009): Scholes chops down Sergio Busquets. Somehow he only receives a yellow.

Farewell glorious Scholes. But isn't it time for Giggs to bow out as well?

With one stalwart retiring and another an irrelevance against Barcelona, Old Trafford's midfield needs a new driving force

Now that Paul Scholes has gone, can Ryan Giggs be far behind? The question may be forlorn for the admirers of two magnificent players but it is also inevitable.

In their different styles and natures, both held at bay the years quite stupendously but for the past few seasons they probably didn't need telling that they were operating on borrowed time.

Yesterday Scholes, at 36 a year younger than his team-mate, confirmed the reality that in his career he had faced just two obstacles. One was a chronic inability not only to master the art of making a coherent, legal tackle but also grasping the fundamentals of the challenge. The other was that one day he might grow old out there on the field.

Some suspect that it may have happened in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City last month when his tackle on Pablo Zabaleta drew the most formal of red cards. This was not just Scholes but also history playing more than a shade dirty for, if his tackling was both an eyesore and dangerous, every other part of his game, including his attitude to it, was nothing less than an unremitting glory.

For the player who prompted Sir Bobby Charlton to say, "Watching him play makes me feel young again, makes me want to get out there with the ball at my feet", to leave his last great stage in such ignominious circumstances must have prompted sadness in all but the most rabid partisans.

The fact that so often in his final season Scholes was able to remind us of the best and most creative of his talent only heightened the poignancy of his losing battle against the clock. Losing? Well, it is a relative term and does nothing to deflect us from the fact that, of all his generation of footballers, few began to match the constancy of both his play and his desire. He made football his only existence beyond the one he shared with his family and close friends and it is one impoverished by his departure.

With Paul Scholes announcing his retirement, team-mate Ryan Giggs cannot be far behind

The same will be true of Giggs when, maybe in more complicated circumstances, he too decides that it is time to walk away. That his performance against Barcelona in the Champions League was so surrounded by personal difficulties was one of two points of sadness. The other was that, against the highest standard of opposition, it was clear that Giggs could no longer impose the enduring talent that had at such pivotal moments illuminated his season.

For Giggs the fear must be that while he struggled in the slipstream of men like Messi and Xavi and Iniesta, another reality landed with the force of a hammer. It was that, at the highest point of the season's challenge that in so many ways he handled quite brilliantly, he was a lost and irrelevant figure. This ambushed the romantic idea that in the middle of a personal crisis he might just find some strands of the best of his talent. It also, surely, brought even more urgency to United's job of recasting a midfield which, for a second time in two years against Barcelona and at many stages in between, had been exposed as unfit for the highest purposes.

There is talk now of a United move for the finely creative Luka Modric and clearly he would be a major step in the right direction. However, Modric alone would likely be swamped by the scale of his task. United also need significant power, a driving force that was best represented by Bastian Schweinsteiger before he made his peace with Bayern Munich.

It may seem indelicate, this talk of new feet in the shoes of men such as Scholes and Giggs, but then when did football ever linger over the need to assign its heroes to the past? Maybe the best tribute will always be the urgency with which they are replaced, however discouraging the task.

England players report for international duty

England reported for duty last night ahead of Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland when, for once, Fabio Capello will not be the most under pressure coach.

Opposite number Ottmar Hitzfeld will fly into London under some scrutiny, but Capello does have his problems to sort out, though.

First of all, he presumably will be able to have a chat with Rio Ferdinand within the confines of Watford's plushest hotel to outline the reasons behind his decision to transfer the captaincy back to John Terry, an understandable move that was handled atrociously.

In addition, he will be wanting to wrap first-choice striker Darren Bent in cotton wool and reassure himself over the fitness of his other two strikers, Peter Crouch and Bobby Zamora, neither of whom completed Tottenham and Fulham's final Premier League games respectively.

There might also be words of encouragement for Scott Parker after his recent relegation, along with a few of gratitude for the midfielder's West Ham team-mate Robert Green, who got Capello out of a hole by agreeing to make himself available after originally stating he wished to miss the final international of the season.

And the match itself is hardly meaningless given England are presently joint-top of Group G, with 10 points from four games, the same as Montenegro, who entertain Bulgaria on Saturday night.

However, it is Capello's rival manager Hitzfeld who is in the firing line after a torrid campaign from which qualification would be virtually impossible if Switzerland are beaten at Wembley.

Beaten by the Three Lions in Basle last September and in Montenegro the following month, the March draw with Bulgaria leaves the Swiss six points adrift of the pace-setters with only four games to do something about it.

In addition, star strikers Alex Frei and Marco Streller have both quit the national scene after growing tired of constant criticism, and obvious replacement Hakan Yakin lambasted Hitzfeld for failing to introduce him from the substitutes' bench against Bulgaria and has been dropped.

The aura around Hitzfeld has disappeared and calls for his head are sure to reach a crescendo if England win.

With the remaining 25 players in Capello's squad reporting last night, the Italian has nine of his starting line-up for the most recent qualifying win in Wales, Wayne Rooney missing out through suspension and Michael Dawson a shock omission to make way for Ferdinand.

Wilshere says another season with no trophy will be 'disaster'

Arsenal midfielder also believes players need harder edge and should pressurise referees more

The Arsenal midfield prodigy Jack Wilshere, the club's fans' player of the season, has admitted that it would be a "disaster" if Arsenal were not to win a trophy next season.

Wilshere, who joined his senior England team-mates at the squad's hotel in Hertfordshire last night, said that the current run of six seasons without a trophy was unacceptable for a club of Arsenal's size. The 19-year-old's emergence this year as one of the finest English players in the Premier League has been one of the few bright spots in another gloomy year for Arsenal.

Wilshere, who is expected to start for England in Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland, said: "Arsenal is a big club and we need to be winning trophies and we need to win them to keep our big players – sooner rather than later. One hundred per cent it will be a disaster if we don't win a trophy next season. We know that. The fans feel it. We feel it. We just need to win a trophy."

Crucial to Arsenal's future will be whether Cesc Fabregas stays at the club this summer having asked to be able to return to Barcelona last summer. There is also likely to be interest in the Arsenal captain from Manchester City, who have the resources to pay the transfer fee and wages even above and beyond Barcelona.

Wilshere: 'Arsenal is a big club and we need to be winning trophies to hold on to our best players'

Wilshere said that keeping Fabregas was critical to Arsenal ending their dismal run without a trophy. "He [Cesc] is our best player. In some of our games he has been our best player by a mile, and we need to keep our best players if we want to win things.

"He talks to me about football. He's the club captain, he likes Arsenal, and I'm sure he wants to be at Arsenal. He's the club captain and I'm sure if they can reach an agreement then I'm sure he'll want to stay. He's the Arsenal captain and he needs to stay.

"He's been over in England eight years, but Barcelona is his home. It's hard for him so I can understand where he's coming from. But he's the Arsenal captain and he's been great this season and we hope he can be great next season."

Wilshere was outspoken on where he feels his Arsenal team-mates could toughen up their act – especially in the case of making their presence felt around referees. While not suggesting that they should begin a campaign of intimidation around match officials, Wilshere has noticed in his first full season that the successful clubs tend to petition referees strongly.

"We need to be more aware and have a bit more aggression," he said. "We've got some players that can do that but we have to go as a team. It's no use just [Robin] Van Persie going because it looks like it's just him having a go at the ref. If we all get round him...

"You just see the other teams do it and you think, 'We need to do it as well'. Manchester United are the best at it. They get round the referee. We have to be more of a team and be more aggressive and show more authority and take control a bit more."

Asked whether Arsenal have been soft and naive this season, Wilshere said: "Yeah, I think we are and some of our players would be the first to admit that. We've been too nice in defending. I've heard Bacary Sagna say this year we've been too nice and we have to be a bit more nasty, especially on set-pieces because we've conceded too many goals from set-pieces."

Wilshere defended Arsène Wenger, whose policy it has been this season – as it has always been – to take the flak for his players rather than blame them. Wilshere said: "At the end of the day it's down to the players he puts on the pitch. He can't run on the pitch and perform instead of us. He's a good manager; he wants to protect his players. But we have to take responsibility.

"We know we need to keep up with the top four. We need to stay in the top four and push on for a trophy. We were so close this year."