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One step at a time for Ruud

by Carl Liddle
NEWLY-CROWNED Newcastle United manager Ruud Gullit surveyed his Geordie kingdom yesterday - then promised to try to bring 'sexy' football back to Tyneside.
The smile which stretched across his features left a clear impression that his departure from Chelsea on February 12 had not dented his confidence or ambition.
"This club is very ambitious and wants to grow. Maybe in the past they tried to grow too quickly. I want to take it one step at a time, but most importantly you have to join a club which suits you. You must enjoy yourself and enjoy your time with your fans but if you set targets you can often be disillusioned at the end of it."
Gullit made it plain that he had joined the Magpies as manager only - his playing days are over - and that he intends living in the North-East.
"I have enjoyed my six months out of the game. OK, in the beginning when you are out of a job you think about finding another one, but then you think no it is better for me to stay out of the game for a while to focus on my coaching course, my family and whatever else. "But in the end you can't turn down every opportunity. After a while it sounds ungrateful towards my agents when you say no all the time.
"I've turned down all kinds of things, from all kinds of clubs."
So when Newcastle made their move on Monday the Dutchman was ready to take on the huge challenge of turning Newcastle into a winning club and an entertaining team.
"That has always been a priority of mine," he said.
He insisted that he needs time now to take a look at the 29-strong squad before making any major decisions on their future.
"You can't create something that is not there. OK, I'd like a sexy team but how they perform, and the ability of the players individually is what I must spot - and what position is the best for certain players."
He added: "From there you build. And if you win games confidence comes and then you play better football.
"I'm the manager here - that's all, even if I take part in training sessions. I've been a lazy bum for six months so it's time I did something."
Gullit has yet to decide who will select the team for the Liverpool match tomorrow. "I have still to talk to some of the staff, I will give them full charge on Sunday because I don't know enough about the players yet."
The Dutch master, who celebrates his 36th birthday of Tuesday, insisted throughout he is not going to look back on his time at Stamford Bridge nor would he compare the merits of Kevin Keegan's exciting side against the less extravagant Dalglish era.
He said: "I can't do that, if I enthuse about Kevin's team it would seem I have nothing good to say about Kenny's. "Both did very well here and did some things which were for the good of the club. I want to continue what they began in some areas.
"I met the players for 15 minutes after training on Friday and it was OK. It is very difficult for players because naturally some had a special bond with Kenny and some did with Kevin.
"It was difficult for them and I told them I understood this. It is not easy but we have to continue - and they have to think about their careers. We have to try to be successful." 

Flippant radio comments a slur on the team, says Barry

by Noel Spillane
Kiev
A LIVID Cork City manager, Dave Barry last night rubbished suggestions that his players had been "living it up" in Kiev before their European Cup Winners Cup tie with CSKA Kiev.
Local radio show presenter Neil Prendeville was on the receiving end of Barry's temper as an on-air row flared over Prendeville's 96FM show. The radio personality branded City's performance as "crappy" and also launched a broadside at some of their supporters by claiming that an element of those attending the matches at Turner's Cross were "scumbags". However he strongly denied last night that he had ever mentioned anything about nightclubs or bars in Kiev. "I have no idea where that came from, but obviously people were ringing Dave Barry in Kiev with incorrect information," he said.
When the controversy filtered through to City's base in Kiev the manager was immediately on the phone to Prendeville to lodge his objection at the broadcaster's comments and challenged him to reserve judgement until he had attended a match at Turner's Cross.
Prendeville responded by claiming that "it wouldn't be safe" for him personally to attend one of Cork City's home matches but did make an offer of £1,000 to sponsor a home game during the coming season. He insisted last night he was only referring to a very small minority of supporters, but Cork City secretary Noel O'Mahony said the club were taking a "dim view" of the programme and the language used to describe the supporters.
In Kiev, Dave Barry commented: "Any suggestions that my players were out drinking before the match are totally untrue and we intend to carry out a full scale enquiry into this controversy when we get back to Cork. My players had a midnight curfew every night we were here.
"It's been very upsetting for all of us. It's bad enough coming home from a difficult European fixture like this and being knocked out of the competition without having to put up with this rubbish," said the City team manager. "That type of comment coming from someone who knows nothing whatsoever about League of Ireland football, has no interest in the domestic game and who obviously does not know how seriously teams prepare for such fixtures, makes me angry.
"It's just unfortunate that perhaps, years ago, there was an idea abroad that League of Ireland clubs were in nightclubs and so on when they travelled. That image was years ago but its all changed now, I can tell you." Barry added: "If you look at where Cork City have come from over the last two years — from four from the bottom to winning the FAI cup after a 25 year wait and qualifying for Europe — I think that says it all. I think for people who obviously know very little about the club, to come out with these flippant comments over the airwaves was scandalous".
Club chairman, Terry Dunne said: "Its hearsay at the moment but we will listen to the tapes when we get back to Cork and if we feel it necessary then we will call in our legal people."
Barry continued: "Feelings are running high but our Board of Directors discussed the whole thing before we flew out to Gatwick; the whole thing is off the wall as far as I am concerned. If the truth be known, we treat the Munster Senior Cup, and the Harp Lager League cup as seriously as we do when we play in Europe.
"This whole shambles is a slur on a football team and a club that were so well prepared for Thursday's fixture. No expense was spared in preparing us for the game".
96FM's PJ Coogan last night said that he had been upset by the content of the programme which bore no relation whatsoever to the content of his reporting from Kiev.

Dalglish to fight for compensation from Magpies

by Steven Baker
KENNY DALGLISH last night insisted he did not resign as Newcastle manager but was sacked, and has appointed legal advisers to fight for compensation.
The club's plc said yesterday that it had been advised by Dalglish on August 18 that he wished to quit as team manager as soon as possible, though not before a replacement was appointed. A Magpies statement said: "Despite strenuous efforts to maintain absolute secrecy, these facts have become public knowledge prematurely."
But the Scot was adamant he had been dismissed by Newcastle. In a statement, Dalglish said: "Newcastle United plc's press release is seriously inaccurate. Their statement says that the club 'reluctantly agreed to release Mr Dalglish from his contract.' The truth is that I did not resign. They terminated my contract without notice or any prior warning to me.
"I received first news of Newcastle United's decision through the press. I have appointed legal advisers and will defend my interests vigorously.
"I have been advised that I can make no further statement but I wish the club, its players and its supporters every success in the future."
Dalglish, 46, was set to leave his Southport home to travel to Newcastle's training ground at Chester-le-Street yesterday morning, intending to speak to club officials following newspaper claims of his sacking.
However, he then decided to return home to await developments, culminating in a telephone call from chairman Freddy Shepherd to confirm the end of his spell as manager.
If he was sacked, Dalglish would be due a massive pay-off from Newcastle likely to run into seven figures with almost two years of his contract to run. He also revealed yesterday that he thought someone was "winding him up" when he first heard of his impending departure from the north-east club on Wednesday.
Dalglish resigned from his Anfield post because of the pressures of the job but he always insisted he would not run away from the size of the task facing him at Newcastle.
Shockwaves reverberated around the football world when it became clear Dalglish would be leaving St James's Gate. The sacking season has always traditionally started in November - but with Dalglish departed and Christian Gross under pressure at Tottenham, it seems it has already begun.

Croatia roll out big guns for Lansdowne tie

by Bill George
DAVOR SUKER, leading goal-scorer in the World Cup in France, leads a powerful Croatian squad, named yesterday for next Saturday's European Championship qualifying tie against Ireland at Lansdowne Road (3 pm kick-off).
Suker is one of thirteen players that played in France in of a squad of eighteen selected by manager Miroslav Blazevic.
Missing is the brilliant and controversial midfielder Robert Prosinecki but included is the powerful centre-forward, Alen Boksic, who was forced to miss the finals because of injury. Boksic, who plays in Serie A in Italy with Lazio, played a major role as Croatia qualified for the finals for the first time in their history scoring four goals while playing in nine of their ten qualifying matches. However, a knee injury prevented him from taking part in the tournament in France.
His inclusion now adds considerably to the appeal of a match that is certain to fill Lansdowne Road as Ireland and Croatia begin the process of trying to secure a qualifying place in the European Championship finals of 2000 in Holland and Belgium.
They are in the same group as Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Malta and with only one team certain to make it to the finals it will be one of the most competitive groups of all.
Left out of the squad is 35 years old goalkeeper Drazen Ladic, who was first choice in France, and Marijan Mrmic is the most likely replacement for him.
Other major players from France who are involved are Zvonomir Boban (AC Milan), their main playmaker in midfield, Robert Jarni, the brilliant left-winger who is with Real Madrid and centre-backs Igor Stimac (Derby County) and Dario Simic (Croatia Zagreb).
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming is out of the Republic of Ireland squad.
Fleming, who won the last of his 10 caps in the scoreless draw with Mexico at Lansdowne Road on May 23, has been forced to withdraw because of a knee ligament problem.
Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has no immediate plans to call in a replacement as he hopes to have a 21-man panel on duty in Dublin next week.
CROATIA squad: Goalkeepers; Mrmic (Besiktas), Pavlovic (LASK).
Defenders; Soldo (Stuttgart), Stimac (Derby County), Tokic (Croatia Zagreb), Simic (Croatia Zagreb), Tudor (Juventus.
Midfielders; Cvitanovic (Croatia Zagreb), Rukavina (Croatia Zagreb), Boban (Milan), Asanovic (Panathinaikos), Jurcic (Croatia Zagreb), Jarni (Real Madrid), Stanic (Parma).
Strikers; Suker (Real Madrid), Boksic (Lazio), Maric (Croatia Zagreb), Krpan (Osijek).

Swedish giantkillers have Chelsea in their sights

by Mark Bradley
SWEDISH part-timers Helsingborgs are hopeful of their second European upset against a Premiership side in two years after being drawn against holders Chelsea in the Cup Winners' Cup first round.
Helsingborgs knocked Aston Villa out of the UEFA Cup in the first round in 1996 on the away-goals rule. They also beat Swiss side Neuchatel in the next round, before falling to Anderlecht in their best-ever European performance.
Club president Ingvar Wenehed said: "We know that it will be difficult against Chelsea but we have a good team, you should always be optimistic."
Chelsea are at home for the first leg on September 17 and then travel to Sweden two weeks later, where the ground capacity is likely to be just 11,000 - ensuring that only a few hundred Blues fans will be get tickets.
Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson said: "We're pleased with the draw. It's a part of the world where we know that everything will be well organised. It won't be easy. Helsingborgs are second in their league, we will have to be well prepared for it."
The Swedish side, who finished sixth in their league last season and won their domestic cup, have since hired Norwegian coach, Age Hareide a former Norwich and Manchester City player.
Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson holds Rovers' French UEFA Cup opponents Olympique Lyon in the highest regard.
He said of the first-round draw: "It's an interesting one and, to be honest, it would have been tough whoever we'd have got. There are pluses in the fact that our opponents are from a league we know well.
"None of us need reminding that France are the World Champions and as a direct result football in France is in the ascendancy."
Leeds boss George Graham was delighted with their UEFA Cup draw against Portuguese side Maritimo, but did express disappointment at having to play the first leg at Elland Road .
"I would have preferred to have been away in the first leg," he said. "But it's great to be back in European football again, both for myself and the club."
Graham can call upon the experience of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Bruno Ribeiro, both of whom he plucked from Portuguese football last season.
Liverpool co-manager Roy Evans immediately warned against complacency when he heard of his side's UEFA cup draw against Slovakian side Kosice.
"Don't let anybody tell you this isn't a hard tie," he said. "This club has the monopoly on the best players in Slovakia, and as with all teams from Eastern Europe, they'll be difficult to beat."

O'Brien backs City to bounce back from Kiev defeat 

by Conor George
INJURED star Colin O'Brien is backing his Cork City team-mates to put the disappointment of Thursday night's exit from the Cup Winner's Cup behind them when they open the 1998/99 league campaign against Bray Wanderers tomorrow afternoon.
O'Brien, who watched the game on television, said that the players simply did not do themselves justice against CSKA Kiev and he believes that will be a motivating factor against Bray.
"The lads will feel they have to redeem themselves after the performance in Kiev and I am sure that they will bounce back in a positive fashion against Pat Devlin's Bray Wanderers. After all this is the start of the league campaign and that is the main competition for us this season," said O'Brien.
O'Brien missed the trip to Kiev after undergoing a cruciate ligament operation at the end of last season but the good news is that he resumed light jogging this week and hopes to be back in action for the FAI Cup champions in the New Year.
"It is important that the Bray game is coming so quickly because it will allow the lads to get the Kiev game out of their systems. There is nothing worse than having a week or so to think about a poor performance.
"They will obviously be disappointed and a little tired after the trip but they will have a day's rest in between matches and they will know that they cannot afford to take Bray for granted. They only joined the top flight this season and will be looking to get off to the best possible start.
"I am sure that they will be relishing the prospect of taking on the FAI Cup champions and will be hoping that City are suffering a small bit of a European hangover but I know the lads are mentally and physically tough enough to bounce back from this.
"The Cup Winner's Cup was a whole experience thing for the majority of the players in Kiev during the week but the league has always been the priority and Dave (Barry) will be hammering that home to them.
"It will be difficult because they went out there with high hopes after winning the first leg but that is football and you have to take these knocks. I am sure that they will be focused and professional enough to put it behind them and start the league campaign with a win," added O'Brien.
First Division side Cobh Ramblers meanwhile start their league season off with a home tie against relegated Drogheda United at St. Colman's Park tonight, kick-off 7 pm.
This will be the first real test for the new managerial duo of John O'Rourke and Philip Long and they could not have asked for a tougher opening match against a Drogheda side that will be anxious to prove that they can make an immediate return to the top flight.
Cobh's cause isn't helped by the fact that they have a number of players on the doubtful list including Long (groin), Pat Keane and Keith Dalton (both ankle) while Willie O'Keeffe is on holidays and there is still some doubt about Damien O'Connell's availability.
"There will be some changes from the team that played in most of the League Cup games and some of those changes will be forced upon us but we are hopeful that we can get the league season off to a winning start," said Philip Long.
"I know first hand that Drogheda are a physical outfit who will put it up to us but we know what to expect. The honeymoon period is over for myself and John now and there is no more room for error if we are to be a force in the league," said Long.

Waterford Utd's share offer deadline extended

THE deadline for the Waterford United share offer has been extended. The offer, designed to generate investment funds for the club, was scheduled to close on Monday next.
Club chairman, Micheal Finnegan, who referred to the positive public reaction to the share offer, announced the extension. "The public have been very supportive. Shareholders who have subscribed range from an 80-year-old supporter to a five-month-old baby, whose shares are held in trust."
The offer has attracted a number of corporate investors also. A number of businesses and individuals have given serious commitment to investing, but were not in a position to do so before Monday.
Turning the club into a plc is part of a three-year strategy, with a focus on generating funds for the player pool, facilities for fans, players and commercial activity. Already, the squad has been strengthened by four new players and facilitates have been upgraded at the ground.
"The Directors are determined that Waterford United will advance and progress in a football environment which is increasingly competitive and professional," said Mr Finnegan.

Liverpool fanatic home at last after Omagh ordeal

by Greg Harkin
LIVERPOOL-mad teenager Ronan McGrory was back at home in Buncrana, Co Donegal, last night after becoming the latest of the Omagh bomb victims to be released from hospital.
The 14-year-old was one of five children from the seaside town to be caught up in the bombing.
Three of the youngsters died. Two Spanish friends were also murdered.
Ronan had stunned Britain's deputy Prime Minister John Prescott when he visited Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh two days after the bomb attack by asking: "Did Liverpool beat Southampton?"
The soccer team responded by sending the Buncrana youngster a tape of get-well messages together with an Liverpool jersey signed by the entire squad.
And there will be another treat for the teenager very soon - after Mr Prescott arranged for the English Premiership team to invite him to Anfield to be the club mascot for one of their top matches before the end of the year.
The good news is tempered by the fact that 44 people injured in the bombing are still being treated in hospital.
Three of them, two women and a man, are described as still being in a critical condition.
The last patient to be kept at Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, which had to deal with the casualties in the immediate aftermath of the August 15 atrocity, is due to be discharged today.

© Examiner Publications Ltd, 1998