BREAKING NEWCASTLE GOSSIP
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's bid to lure back Kevin Keegan ended in stalemate and talks look unlikely to be resurrected. (Various)

Keegan & Ashley in surprise talks


EARLIER NEWCASTLE GOSSIP
Blackburn manager Paul Ince has insisted he is "very happy" with his current job as speculation mounts he is a target to replace Keegan at Newcastle. (Various)

Tottenham's reserve team coach Clive Allen does not believe Gus Poyet will become the new manager at Newcastle because he is happy being Juande Ramos' assistant at White Hart Lane. (Press Association)

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins is one of several stars considering their futures at the club because of the managerial uncertainty. (Sun)

Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, who was said to be interested in taking over Newcastle, is said to have now approached Everton instead. (Sun)



TRANSFER RUMOURS
Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari says Roman Abamovich over-ruled the purchase of Robinho allowing the Brazilian to sign for Manchester City instead. (Daily Mirror)


Meanwhile, Chelsea are poised to snatch Brazilian midfielder Mineiro from under Arsenal's noses to fill the void left by Michael Essien's long-term injury. (Daily Mirror)


Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has accused arch-rivals Tottenham of inflating the fees they got for Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane. (Various)

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie has told Manchester City their millions could never tempt him to move to Eastlands. (Sun)



OTHER GOSSIP

Former Tottenham boss Gerry Francis has been offered a route back into coaching by Stoke boss Tony Pulis. (Sun)


Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari insists his assistant Steve Clarke is making a 'big mistake' by opting to move to West Ham under new boss Gianfranco Zola. (Daily Mirror)


Chelsea have demanded almost £5m in compensation from West Ham for the services of Clarke. (Times)

Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko could be in trouble with new club Tottenham after he was pictured in a Moscow nightclub. (Daily Telegraph)

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan last night called on club bosses to sort out a new deal for defender Gary Caldwell. (Express)

Hibs goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay has revealed that tennis great Roger Federer gave him a pep talk at the Olympics. (Various)

SFA President George Peat has admitted the association could have handled Lee McCulloch's international retirement better. (Mirror)



AND FINALLY
West Ham will remove the name of sponsors XL Holidays after the travel firm went bust. (Various

bbc.co.uk/football


The Mafia Is Not Primarily An Organisation Of Murderers.
First And Foremost,The Mafia Is Made Up Of Thieves.
It Is Driven By Greed And Controlled By Fear.

Between The Law And The Mafia, The Law Is Not The Most To Be Feared

"What if the Mafia were not an organization but a widespread Sicilian attitude of hostility towards the law?"

"Make Love Not War" John Lennon