Spector calls at Blackburn
Friday, December 24, 2004
Article summary
News round-up: Manchester United FC defender Jonathan Spector has been loaned to Blackburn Rovers FC.
Article body
Blackburn Rovers FC
Struggling Danish Superliga club FC Nordsjælland have sacked coach Christian Andersen. "My previous faith that our association could last at least until the summer has drastically changed," said Nordsjælland president Allan K. Pedersen. The 60-year-old Andersen had not been able to halt a poor run of form that left the club third from bottom at the winter break. After his dismissal, Andersen said: "That is life as a coach."
Young Real Madrid CF midfielder Diego León is to move to DSC Arminia Bielefeld on loan. The 20-year-old, who normally turns out for Madrid's B team, will join the side that won promotion to the Bundesliga last summer until 2006. Arminia are currently hoping to agree a deal with the Spanish giants that will see more players move from Madrid to Bielefeld.
Belgian side R. Standard de Liège have signed French midfielder Matthieu Assou-Ekotto from rivals RAA Louviéroise. Assou-Ekotto has an 18-month contract with an option for a further two years. The 26-year-old holding player will link up with his new team-mates at their training camp in Portugal from 3 January. Meanwhile, Standard's Brazilian defender Denis Souza Guedes, 24, has signed a contract until the end of the season at RAEC Mons.
The Turkish Cup second round has been in full swing this week with Superleague leaders Fenerbahçe SK among those safely through. Fenerbahçe were 6-2 winners against second division side Usakspor, holders Trabzonspor defeated Antalyaspor AS 5-1, while Besiktas JK were 1-0 winners against Göztepe AS. However, there were some top-flight exits with Gençlerbirligi SK beaten 2-1 by Kayserispor - costing coach Oguz Çetin his job - Istanbulspor AS going down 3-1 at the hands of Bursaspor and Kayseri Erciyesspor winning 3-2 against Akçaabat Sebatspor.
The Turkish Football Association, meanwhile, has ordered Galatasaray SK, who defeated KDÇ Karabükspor 3-0 in their midweek cup tie, to play their next home Superleague fixture, against Gaziantepspor on 6 February, at a neutral venue because of the crowd disturbances during the derby match against Fenerbahçe on 12 December.
