Family tragedy sends Dindane home

RC Lens

Kilmarnock FC manager Jim Jefferies has signed a new deal with the Scottish Premier League outfit that could keep him at Rugby Park until 2009. "I am delighted to stay because we have started to build something and have a great opportunity to consolidate," said Jefferies, who joined Kilmarnock in February 2002 after spells at Bradford City FC and Heart of Midlothian FC.

The mayor of Le Mans has announced that a new stadium for the city's Ligue 1 team, Le Mans UC 72, will be ready "by early 2009". Work will begin on the 30,000-capacity arena next year, which will lead to the club's departure from their current home, the 17,000-seat Stade Léon Bollée.

Jos Staatsen, former chairman of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), has died at the age of 62. Staatsen headed the KNVB between 1993 and 1997. During a varied career he was also mayor of Groningen and worked for the Dutch health ministry. In 2002 he briefly returned to football to help in a successful campaign to save NAC Breda from bankruptcy.

Atanas Marinov has become the third coach of struggling Bulgarian side PFC Botev Plovdiv this season, after signing a deal until the end of the season. The 47-year-old replaces Trifon Pachev and returns to the club he successfully represented as a player. Marinov made 155 appearances for Botev in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning the Bulgarian Cup in 1981.

Dunfermline Athletic FC forward Derek Young could be sidelined for two months after undergoing his fourth operation in two and a half years. The 25-year-old has had back and hernia problems this season.