Niculae accepts Auxerre challenge

AJ Auxerre

After missing out on a place in Poland's FIFA World Cup squad, Marcin Kuś has gained some cheer after joining Russian outfit FC Torpedo Moskva. The 24-year-old right-back, who spent the latter half of this season on loan at English second-tier side Queen's Park Rangers FC, joins from Lech Poznań on a three-year contract. Lech have wasted little time in replacing him, signing Marcin Wasilewski on a two–year deal.

Croatia midfielder Jerko Leko has joined AS Monaco FC from FC Dynamo Kyiv, newspaper Sportske Novosti have reported. "I wanted to join a strong European club and I'm sure that by playing for Monaco I will secure a regular position in the national side," said the 26-year-old. Leko is currently training with the Croatian national team ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Brazil on 13 June.

RC Recreativo de Huelva have earned themselves a return to the Primera División with a 3-0 win away to CD Numancia. The Andalucian side, the longest established club in Spain, will join Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona in the top flight after the Catalans won their first promotion in 56 years thanks to a goalless draw at Xerez CD on Saturday.

Back in Poland, 33-year-old Michal Probierz will lead Widzew Łódź in the top flight next season after Stefan Majewski, 50, stepped down after guiding the side to promotion. In the south of the country, meanwhile, midfielder Paweł Nowak, 27, has signed a one-year extension to his contract at MKS Cracovia SSA, committing until June 2009.

The Polish city of Lodz will have good representation in the Polish First Division next season after ŁKS Łódź followed the lead of Widzew Łódź in gaining promotion. A 1-0 victory against RKS Radomiak Radom in the penultimate round of fixtures proved sufficient, with former Poland international Igor Sypniewski scoring the decisive goal that earned a return to the Ekstraklasa after six seasons in the second division.