Shamrock Rovers shaken by deduction

Irish Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers FC are facing a relegation battle after they had eight points deducted due to financial irregularities. The punishment means that Shamrock Rovers now lie bottom of the league with just a point after nine games, four points adrift of safety. "To have eight points taken away is heart-breaking," manager Roddy Collins said, "especially for the players who have had nothing to do with the situation. My job as manager is to lift the lads off the floor and try to kick on from there."

The future of Scottish Premier League side Livingston FC has been secured after being taken over by a consortium. The West Lothian club had been bracing themselves for a ten-point penalty that would have been imposed for the start of next season had they failed to resolve their financial difficulties before 31 May. But administrators Kroll have confirmed that Lionheart consortium's takeover ha been completed to end a 15-month period of administration. Pearse Flynn, head of the Lionheart consortium and now the majority shareholder at Almondvale said: "Our challenge now is to get a squad that will keep us away from the bottom end of the league next season."

FC Utrecht have signed goalkeeper Franck Grandel from French side ES Troyes Aube Champagne on a free transfer. The 27-year-old former Xanthi FC custodian has agreed a three-year deal with a further two-year option, and moves just days after helping Troyes to promotion into Ligue 1. "Franck has been signed as first-choice goalkeeper," Utrecht coach Foeke Booy said. "We have looked at Dutch options, but this goalkeeper was better."

Dunfermline AFC have signed Clyde FC goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell on a two-year deal. The 24-year-old former Wimbledon FC player will provide back-up to first-choice custodian Derek Stillie.