Soccer Digest: Giovanni Trapattoni calls on new faces

A look at what's happening in soccer news

Stokes has been linked with a return to the Premier League in England as Celtic come to terms with the financial implications of Rangers move to third division football in Scotland.

The manager says he wants to keep Stokes at Parkhead but has admitted that “every player has his price.”

Now Lennon has been linked with West Brom’s Irish striker Cox, set to leave the Hawthorns with Blackburn and Middlesbrough also interested in his services.

Lennon, whose experimental side was hammered 4-0 by Ajax in a pre-season friendly in Amsterdam last week, has repeated his call for Rangers to be stripped of titles won over the past decade if they are found guilty of signing players on illegal contracts.

Celtic’s rivals could lose the five Scottish Premier League crowns and four Scottish Cups they won between 2002 and 2011 if allegations of wrongful registration of players is proven.

Boss Lennon, who played for and managed Celtic in that time, told the Daily Mail, “I will see what the commission finds and, if they are found to have broken the rules, then they should be stripped of their titles.

“It will not change what has gone on in the past but I suppose there will be a sort of moral victory in that respect.

“It is not going to change my life now, by any stretch of the imagination, but it would be good to be changed for historical reference.”
 
Airtricity Results
LEAGUE leaders Sligo Rovers fought back from a two goal deficit to draw 2-2 with visitors Cork City in the Airtricity League on Sunday evening.

St. Patrick’s Athletic saw their title hopes dented in a 1-1 draw with UCD while Dundalk left it late to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Derry City.

Drogheda maintained their impressive form with a 2-1 win at Shelbourne, while Shamrock Rovers were held to a scoreless draw by visitors Bray.

St. Patrick’s Athletic fancy their chances of progressing to the next round of the Europa League after drawing 1-1 away to Siroki Brijeg in Bosnia last Thursday.

Sligo Rovers lost 3-1 to Spartak Trnava in Slovakia the same night with both return legs to be played this Thursday.
 
Pay Cut
FAI boss John Delaney announced at the association’s AGM on Saturday that he has agreed to take a $50,000 pay cut on his near $500,000 salary.

Delaney told the meeting in Letterkenny, “We have a duty to our members to make the most effective use of our resources. No business survives unless it adapts. Difficult times are ahead for everyone, but we are prepared to meet the challenges.

“In my own case I will take a further 10% pay cut.”

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Nster.com